Abortion in Islamic Jurisprudence: An Analysis of Wahbah al-Zuhaili’s Tafsir al-Munir

Abstract

This article discusses the legality of abortion from Wahbah az-Zuhaili's perspective by examining his interpretation of verses from the Qur'an in Tafsir Al-Munir. Abortion is a complex issue involving theological, ethical, and legal dimensions, thus requiring study based on the authority of interpretation and Islamic law. This study aims to analyze Wahbah az-Zuhaili's views on the law of abortion by considering the context of the verses, the principles of fiqh, and the maqasid al-sharī‘ah (objectives of Islamic law) approach used in Tafsir Al-Munir. This study uses a qualitative approach through library research, with Tafsir Al-Munir as the main source. The analysis was conducted using a thematic (maudhu‘i) approach to verses related to the creation of humans and the protection of life, and was reinforced with fiqh and usul fiqh literature. The data analysis technique used was content analysis to identify the normative basis, legal arguments, and ethical considerations in az-Zuhaili's views. The results of the study show that Wahbah az-Zuhaili, in principle, prohibits abortion, especially after the infusion of the soul, but provides limited exceptions in emergency conditions to protect the safety of the mother based on the principles of public interest and emergency in Islamic law.