Question:
Asalamualaykum
I had a question about my miscarriage. i keep thinking about it recently it didn’t come to my mind at the time. my miscarriage was at 7 weeks and it happened at work. at the time i wasnt thinking and threw the fetus in the trash. now i keep thinking about it and if i had to bury it or not. do you know what the right thing to do was?
Answer:
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-Salāmu ‘Alaykum Wa-Rahmatullāhi Wa-Barakātuh.
In principle, if a woman miscarries, it should be determined whether any of the fetus’s limbs or bodily features—such as the hands, feet, or other body parts—have developed.
- If any part of the body’s formation has become apparent, then the fetus is treated like a stillborn child. It should be given a name, washed (ghusl), wrapped in a clean cloth, and buried without the Janazah prayer.
- If no bodily features have developed at all, then it is not given a name, not washed, and not shrouded in the formal manner. Rather, it should simply be wrapped in a piece of cloth and buried.
Going forward, whenever you are unsure about a Shar’i ruling, ask a learned person before taking action. May Allah Ta’ala forgive any shortcomings, grant you patience and ease, and reward you abundantly for your loss. Amin.[1]
And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best.
Abdour-Rahmaan Lim Voon Heek
Student Darul Iftaa
Port-louis, Mauritius
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Muhammad Zakariyya Desai.
