What is the minimum gestation period according to Islamic law?
Question
What is the minimum gestation period according to Islamic law?
Answer
Scholars of Islamic law unanimously agree that the minimum gestation period is generally six months. They based this on the following two Qur`anic verses:
And We have enjoined upon man, to his parents, good treatment. His mother carried him with hardship and gave birth to him with hardship, and his gestation and weaning [period] is thirty months.
[Qur`an 46:15]
And, Mothers may breastfeed their children two complete years for whoever wishes to complete the nursing [period].
[Qur`an 2:233]
Since the above verses demonstrate that the nursing and weaning period is twenty four months (as stated in the second verse) and the gestation and nursing period is thirty months (as stated in the first verse), then this indicates that the minimum gestation period is six months.
The above answers the question and Allah Almighty knows best.