then from a sperm-drop, then from a clinging clot, then from a lump of flesh—formed and unformed—so that We may make clear to you. And We cause to remain in the wombs whatever We will for an appointed term; then We bring you forth as infants, then enable you to reach your full strength. And among you are those who die, and among you are those who are returned to the most decrepit stage of life, so that after having known something, they know nothing. And you see the earth lifeless; but when We send down water upon it, it stirs, swells, and produces every kind of beautiful growth.” [al-Hajj]

His saying, “then We bring you forth as infants,” comes after the preceding stages. In another verse, after mentioning the clinging clot and the lump of flesh, He says: “Then We produced him as another creation.” [al-Mu'minun: 14] Outwardly and physically, nothing has changed; but in that he has become a human being who feels and perceives, Allah, Most High, made him another creation: “So blessed is Allah, the Best of creators.” [al-Mu'minun: 14]

In summary: aborting the pregnancy at the sperm-drop stage is either disliked or, according to the stronger view, prohibited; according to the position adopted by the author in the book, it is permissible. Once it has become a clinging clot, aborting it is prohibited, even according to the author’s own view, unless necessity calls for it. If it has become a formed lump of flesh, aborting it is prohibited unless necessity calls for it. Once the soul has been breathed into it, aborting it is prohibited even if necessity calls for it, because it is the killing of a human soul.