His statement, “not a muḍghah (morsel of flesh),” means: not by miscarrying a morsel of flesh.

His statement, “or a body without discernible features,” means that if she miscarries a morsel of flesh or a clinging clot, she does not become a mother of a child, because no human form has become discernible in it.

You should know that the rulings concerning the fetus vary. Some relate to its being a drop of fluid; some to its being a clinging clot; some to its being a formed morsel of flesh; some to the breathing of the soul into it; and some to its being delivered alive. These are five rulings:

First: with respect to its being a drop of fluid, it is permissible to abort it when there is a need, even if there is no necessity.

Second: with respect to its being a clinging clot, it is not permissible to abort it except out of necessity.

Third: with respect to its being a formed morsel of flesh, postpartum bleeding applies. Thus, if a woman delivers the pregnancy before a human form has become discernible in it, the blood she discharges is not postpartum blood.

Fourth: with respect to the breathing of the soul into it, the funeral prayer is offered over it; it is shrouded, washed, buried among the Muslims, and given a name. Likewise, an ʿaqīqah sacrifice is offered on its behalf.

Fifth: with respect to its emerging alive, inheritance applies, for it does not inherit until it is born alive, as is well known.

His statement, “she becomes a mother of a child for him”: “she becomes” is the answer to “if.” That is, if a free man causes his slave woman to bear him a child under these conditions, she becomes a mother of a child for him—that is, for the man who fathered the child.

His statement, “she is emancipated upon his death from all his estate,” means that she is emancipated compulsorily upon his death, from all his estate, taking precedence over