The Minimum Period of Gestation is Six Months: A Quranic Perspective

Understanding the Quran’s Guidance on Pregnancy and Childbirth

THE MINIMUM PERIOD OF GESTATION IS SIX MONTHS

ALLĀH says,

وَحَمْلُهُ وَفِصَالُهُ ثَلَثُونَ شَهْرًا 

And ˹the period of˺ his gestation and weaning is thirty months,

Ali, may ALLĀH be pleased with him, used this Ayah along with the following two Ayat to prove that the minimum period of pregnancy (gestation) is six months:

وَفِصَالُهُ فِى عَامَيْنِ 

“And his weaning is in two years.” (31:14), and;

وَالْوَلِدَتُ يُرْضِعْنَ أَوْلَـدَهُنَّ حَوْلَيْنِ كَامِلَيْنِ لِمَنْ أَرَادَ أَن يُتِمَّ الرَّضَاعَةَ 

“The mothers suckle their children two complete years — for those who desire to complete the term of suckling.” (2:233)

This is a strong and valid conclusion, and it was approved by Uthman and a number of the Companions.

Muhammad bin Ishaq bin Yasar narrated from Bajah bin Abdullāh Al-Juhani that: ‘A man from his tribe (Juhaynah) married a woman from Juhaynah. She delivered a baby after six months. So her husband went to Uthman, may ALLĀH be pleased with him, and told him about that. Thus, Uthman summoned her. When she was getting dressed, her sister started crying. She asked her:

“Why do you cry? By ALLĀH, no one has ever approached me (for sexual relations) of ALLĀH’S creation except him (my husband). So let ALLĀH decree (for me) as HE wills.”

When she was brought before Uthman, he commanded that she be stoned to death (for adultery).

Ali heard of this, came to Uthman, and said:”What are you doing?”

He (Uthman) said: “She delivered after six months! Can this ever happen?”  

Ali, may ALLĀH be pleased with him, said: “Don’t you read the Qur’an?”

He said: “Yes, of course!”

He (Ali) then said: ‘Haven’t you heard ALLAH’S saying,

وَحَمْلُهُ وَفِصَالُهُ ثَلَثُونَ شَهْرًا 

“and his gestation and weaning is thirty months”, and;

حَوْلَيْنِ كَامِلَيْن 

“two complete years” (2:233)

(Subtracting the two numbers) we are only left with six months.”

Uthman, may ALLĀH be pleased with him, said: “By ALLĀH, I did not see that! Bring the woman back.”

But they found that she had already been killed.

Bajah continued: “By ALLĀH, no two crows and no two eggs are more similar than that child turned out to be to his father!

When his father saw that he said, By ALLĀH! This is my son without any doubt.’

Later on, ALLĀH afflicted him with a skin abscess in his face (because of his false accusation to his wife). It kept eating him up until he died.”

Ibn Abi Hatim related from his father that Farwah bin Abi Al-Maghra’ told them that Ali bin Mushir narrated to them from Dawud bin Abi Hind, who narrated from Ikrimah that Ibn Abbās, may ALLĀH be pleased with him, said,

“When a woman delivers after nine months, the baby will only need twenty-one months of suckling. When she delivers after seven months, the baby will need twenty-three months of suckling. When she delivers after six months, the baby will need two full years of suckling, because ALLĀH says,

وَحَمْلُهُ وَفِصَالُهُ ثَلَثُونَ شَهْرًا حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُ 

and his gestation and weaning is thirty months, till when he attains full strength.”

{Tafsi‌r Ibn Kathīr}

#ibnkathir #ahqaf (46:15)