by Nadiah Mohajir
Because HEART sits at the intersection of reproductive justice and faith, we understand the complexities of the current abortion debate, and the physical, emotional, and spiritual implications of having to make such a decision. More importantly, when this decision making takes part later in one’s pregnancy, we know that this process becomes even more complex.
We share this letter by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), written in response to the state of the union. The letter provides well-researched facts and statistics about abortion, particularly those in the second and third trimester. As an organization led by Muslim women, we are committed to bringing well-researched statements made by reputable organizations like ACOG to the communities we serve. We fully believe in a pregnant person’s right to accurate information, access to safe and affordable reproductive health services, and to make an informed decision about their body and pregnancy without judgment or feeling pressured.
“Women’s access to accurate, full information and care must never be constrained by politicians.”
In the past year, we have seen various articles and religious opinions about abortion circulating in Muslim communities. Many of these opinions contain inaccurate medical information and misleading statistics; the result is that ignorance about abortion is compounded.
This not only results in shame and stigma for those who’s lived experience includes having to make the difficult decision to terminate their pregnancy, but also perpetuates a silence and isolation around the issue, leaving many individuals to struggle alone.
To be clear, 55% of Muslims in the US believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases. One in four women in the US will have an abortion before the age of 45, seventy-five per cent of whom are low-income. Given how common abortion is, and regardless of what conclusions male scholars draw, we know that many Muslims have and will continue to seek abortion. Muslims, like all people, have unintended pregnancies, pregnancy complications, and other circumstances that lead them to the decision to have an abortion. While those who debate abortion are absolutely entitled to their own opinion and reasoning about why it is not an option for their families, it is a disservice to blur the lines between their personal opinion and (inaccurate) information and generalizations that they pass off as facts. The reality of abortion in the United States is that it is in fact very hard for those who are seeking abortion- especially communities of color and Muslims – to get an abortion safely.
That said, as we said above, we understand that those who are faced with the decision to have or not have an abortion may desire guidance regarding where their faith tradition stands. We support spiritual guidance that is committed to accurate information and uplifts the diversity of opinions in Islamic tradition. As such, for those who find themselves having to support a pregnant Muslim through navigating this decision, we recommend the following:
1) Gather information from clinicians – both in the obstetrics and pediatric fields. A Muslim clinician (although not always) may also be able to offer this information with the religious sensitivity and compassion that the patient might be looking for. These clinicians can help the patient understand the diagnosis, the implications on the mother’s health and the baby’s health, and what to expect with respect to quality of life, and what kind of financial and medical resources will be needed. These clinicians can also speak accurately about the actual procedure and correct any misinformation about process or statistics the patient may have.
2) Gather the diverse religious opinions on pregnancy termination. There is a wide difference of opinion on the permissibility of abortion in Islam. Regardless of where you personally stand on the abortion debate, it is a disservice to blur the lines between personal opinion and the diverse opinions out there. It is critical to uplift and celebrate the diversity of Islamic opinions, and offer the range of opinions using a nonjudgemental approach.
3) Consult specifically a clinician that is has studied the intersection of bioethics and Islamic law. Most likely, this person will be able to understand the full context in a way that many clinicians or religious authority won’t be able to, and can provide a nuanced answer specific to each particular case.
4) Consult laws specific to geography regarding abortion. Every state differs in the laws with respect to whether abortion is legal or not. If the person resides in a state where abortion laws are more restrictive, then access to safe and affordable services will also be something to consider. You can find an overview of these laws here.
5) If you do not feel equipped to provide this guidance, find someone who can. The most powerful thing you can say to a person who needs help is “I don’t know how to help but let’s find someone who can.”
We do not believe that this is a type of guidance that just *any* religious authority can provide. In fact, we’ve heard of too many cases where such guidance has done more harm than good. We also understand that access to trained health care professionals and religious authority is not a luxury most people have. This is precisely the reason our organization, HEART exists: to be able to provide people with the access to critical, accurate information and networks they need to make informed decisions about their reproductive health.
While uninformed arguments will continue to circulate, we continue to remain committed to making sure that all Muslims receive comprehensive, culturally competent, and trauma-informed sex education and reproductive health information. We will continue to make sure that all Muslims can access abortion, contraception, and all reproductive healthcare regardless of their income, immigration status, gender, race, or other identity. Most of all, we will continue to advocate for reproductive choice: the decision to have a child or not, should always remain in the hands of the pregnant person under the guidance of a trained healthcare professional.
We will continue to make sure all Muslims are treated with the respect, kindness, and dignity that Islam teaches us to uphold. The verses of the Quran were revealed at a time when certain individuals – especially women – did not have certain control over their lives, granting them that agency: where before they could be forcibly married, now it required their consent; where before they had no inheritance, now they had inheritance. Muslims deserve to be part of a faith community that honors the legacy and example of the Prophet of God, who made space for women to speak about their own reality, even when men tried to silence them.
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