My sister is a gynecologist. Recently she did an abortion for a woman upon her request. It was her first time to do such an operation. However, she regretted and repented from doing so. Is this sufficient? What should she do? The fetus was four weeks old, and she got rid of the fee for the operation. May Allaah Reward you.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

Abortion is unlawful unless there is a Sharee‘ah-approved justification, such as fearing for the mother’s life.  Otherwise, abortion is considered to be aggression against a soul that might come to this life and worship Allaah Alone. When there is no Sharee‘ah-approved justification, the doctor must not contribute to abortion because that is considered cooperation in sin and this is prohibited. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression.} [Quran 5: 2]

The prohibition of abortion is asserted when it is carried out to hide the crime of Zina (adultery/ fornication) or for birth control, fearing the expenditures of supporting the new baby. Both the doctor and the woman are required to turn to Allaah in repentance. Nevertheless, neither the diyyah (blood money) nor the kaffaarah (expiation) is due because the fetus was not yet formed. We supplicate Allaah to accept the repentance of those who sincerely turn to Allaah in repentance. One should frequently seek the forgiveness of Allaah and do a lot of righteous deeds. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means):

·        {But whoever repents after his wrongdoing and reforms, indeed, Allaah Will Turn to him in forgiveness. Indeed, Allaah Is Forgiving and Merciful.} [Quran 5: 39]

·        {And those who, when they commit an immorality or wrong themselves [by transgression], remember Allaah and seek forgiveness for their sins – and who can forgive sins except Allaah? – and [who] do not persist in what they have done while they know. * Those – their reward is forgiveness from their Lord and gardens beneath which rivers flow [in Paradise], wherein they will abide eternally; and excellent is the reward of the [righteous] workers.} [Quran 3: 135-136]

Allaah Knows best.