When Does the Soul (Ruh) Enter the Foetus?

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question: Assalamualaikum, I have a question regarding: when does the soul ruh enter the foetus? When is the first day of the counting of 120 days? Is it the last day of the period?

Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,

Generally, the answer to this question would be determined by the appropriate medical professionals. We are now at a stage where such matters can be clearly delineated.

Nevertheless, the usual manner of calculation, namely, the first day of the last menstrual period, would be a useful and close approximation.

Please also see: When is Having an Abortion Permitted?

And Allah Most High alone knows best.

wassalam,

Ustadh Tabraze Azam.

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Tabraze Azam holds a BSc in Computer Science from the University of Leicester, where he also served as the President of the Islamic Society. He memorised the entire Qur’an in his hometown of Ipswich at the tender age of sixteen, and has since studied the Islamic Sciences in traditional settings in the UK, Jordan and Turkey. He is currently pursuing advanced studies in Jordan, where he is presently based with his family.