Some illnesses lead the patient to be definitely mentally retarded and may even leave him with problems for the rest of his life. For example: the illnesses of the brain and nervous system. The patient of such an illness may be inside the womb, and medical examinations may show that this child will be born with a mental illness, which will make him and his parents suffer as long as he lives.
There is a recognized idea implemented in the west that such a child should not be properly treated. Meaning to give him a chance to die as if he becomes well he will remain mentally retarded. If the patient is a fetus, then they perform an abortion so that he is stillborn. Parents sometimes even ask for this themselves; claiming that they do not want him to suffer. What is the ruling on this?.
One of the five essentials which the texts of the Qur’aan and Sunnah indicate must be preserved, and on which the ummah is unanimously agreed, is preservation of human life, which comes second only to preservation of religious commitment, whether the individual is a foetus into whom the soul has been breathed or he has been given birth to, and whether he is free of diseases, problems and deformities or he is afflicted in some sense, and whether there is the hope that he may be healed or there is no such hope, on the basis of the usual means and on the basis of clinical tests. So it is not permissible to transgress against him by aborting him if he is a foetus into which the soul has been breathed or by giving him medicines that will cause him to die or to destroy him, so as to spare him pain and suffering, or to relieve his guardian (of this burden) or so as to rid society of those who have mental and physical handicaps or who are deformed, or for any other reason that may motivate people to get rid of them, because of the general meaning of the words of Allaah (interpretation of the meaning):
“And do not kill anyone whose killing Allaah has forbidden, except for a just cause”
And it was proven that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “It is not permissible to shed the blood of a Muslim (by passing a verdict of execution) except in three cases: a life for a life, an adulterer who is married (or previously married), and one who leaves his religion and separates from the jamaa’ah.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari and Muslim. They should seek reward for that and not complain about the frequency of the sick person’s visits to the doctor, or feel distressed because of the length of treatment, and they should not despair of good consequences, because all matters are in the hand of Allaah and He directs them as He wills. So they should not lose patience if the cure is not easy to find and death is expected. How often has a sick person been faced with a difficult-to-treat illness and his condition has deteriorated, then Allaah bestowed healing upon him. And how often has a sick person been diagnosed with a sickness and has taken the medicine and hoped for a cure, then he died despite the great care of those who were treating him. Medical skills and experience should not make doctors regard what they think is going to happen as being something definite and inevitable, and they should not regard their expectations as reality. How often have speculations proven false and expectations proven wrong. They should realize that even though we are enjoined to implement the means, healing comes only from Allaah Who has created the means. Knowledge of people’s lifespans belongs only to Him, and no one knows them except Him. The authorities should prepare facilities for treatment, and supply doctors, equipment, hospitals and so on. Everyone is a shepherd and is responsible for his flock, each in his own field according to the knowledge, physical strength and financial ability that Allaah has given him, as the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) told us. They should all do their jobs well, for Allaah has decreed proficiency in all things and He loves those who do well.
They do not have the right to withhold treatment or be careless about it, by neglecting to implement the means of healing.
The presence of the mentally and physically handicapped, and the chronically ill, is good for people, and it is a reminder and exhortation, and a great sign of the wisdom of Allaah and His ability to do whatever He wills, and the greatness of His blessing to those who are free of these sicknesses, so that they show gratitude to him and obey Him.
And Allaah is the Source of strength. May Allaah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions. End quote.
Standing Committee for Academic Research and Issuing Fatwas
Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn ‘Abd-Allaah b nbaaz, Shaykh ‘Abd al-Razzaaq ‘Afeefi, Shaykh ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Ghadyaan, Shaykh ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Qa’ood
Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah li’l-Buhooth al-‘Ilmiyyah wa’l-Ifta (24/389).