PRO-CHOICE basically states that the fetus is just a part of the pregnant woman's body, like her tonsils or appendix. This justifies the owner of the body to do with it what it chooses. It fails to take into consideration, that the baby has its own SEPARATE genetic code, a separate set of fingerprints, and most often a different blood type.

There are two types of abortions - Spontaneous or Induced.

Webster's dictionary defines Spontaneous abortion as the expulsion of a non-viable fetus during the first twelve weeks of pregnancy.  In an Induced abortion, on the other hand, a viable, live baby is forcibly expelled from the womb, either by using abortifacient drugs or by opening the closed mouth of the womb by artificial means.

Proponents of Pro-Choice argue, that there is no evidence that the expelled fetus carries a life.  They conveniently ignore that they cannot prove that it does not.

So, when does life begin?  Scientific data clearly proves that life begins at conception / fertilisation.  All the scriptures - The Old Testament, The New Testament, and The Final Testament, bear this out.

The textbook definitions, after innumerable anatomic dissections, are all unanimous in their conclusions:

Dr. Bradley M. Patten's textbook, HUMAN EMBRYOLOGY, states:  "It is the penetration of the ovum by a sperm, and the resultant mingling of the nuclear / genetic material each brings to the union that constitutes the culmination process of fertilization and marks the initiation of the life of a new individual".

The Encyclopedia Britannica states: "a new individual is created when the elements of a potent sperm merge with those of a fertile female ovum."

Time and Rand McNally's "Atlas of the Body", states the following: "in fusing together, the male and female gametes produce a single cell, the zygote, which is the start of the new individual".

Transvaginal sonography (TVS) permits visualisation of the first 8 weeks of pregnancy (the most critical and tenuous period of the new human) in unsurpassed detail. With TVS, exquisite, clear views of the gestational sac, yolk sac, and embryo are obtained.  To undestand how early the structures can be visualised, a brief summary of human embryonic development  follows:

In an ideal menstrual cycle of 28 days, a mature ovum is released from the ovary on the 14th day.  Fertilisation, if successful, occurs within 1-2 days after ovulation in the distal fallopian tube. The fertilised zygote rapidly divides to form a cluster of cells called the morula, which then differentiates into the blastocyst, comprised of an inner cell mass (which forms the fetus, yolk sac etc.), and an outer trophoblast which forms the placenta and the membranes (gestational sac).  The blastocyst continues to float freely while multiplying; and approximately 5-7 days after fertilisation, or between 19-21 days from the first day of menstruation, starts implanting (hanging), from the wall of the uterus.  It continues to grow, though not visible to the naked eye.   Using TVS, the gestational sac is visualised by day 30.  Cardiac activity inside the baby is demonstrable to the naked eye by day 35, i.e. 5 weeks after the first day of menstruation.  The complete fetus is visible to the naked eye at 40 days (6-7mm).

Technology has not advanced enough for us to look at the baby between days 14-30, since it is still in the microscopic stage.  Even so, TVS will confirm a pregnancy in the uterus on the day the next period is supposed to arrive.

The International Symposium on Abortion came to the following conclusion, after reviewing countless medical, biological and scientific writings: "The changes occuring between implantation, a six week embryo, a six month fetus, a one week old child, or a mature adult are merely stages of development and maturation.  There is no point in time between the union of the sperm and egg , or at least the blastocyst stage, and the birth of the infant, at which point we could say that this was not a human life".

The Quran describes the above process with astounding accuracy (given the state of medical know-how at the time of its compilation), and shows without ambiguity that life starts at the time of fertilization; i.e. in the fallopian tube from whence the zygote travels, and in 5-7 days starts hanging from the uterine wall. These verses are presented later in this essay.

All three Testaments contain several verses which show clearly that the baby inside the womb is equal to a baby outside of it. The only difference is its temporary abode inside the mother.

This Old Testament verse, unambigously and clearly, equates the life inside the womb, and outside it:

"If men who are fighting hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman's husband demands and the court allows. But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise." (Exodus, 21:22-25)

Other verses in the Old and New Testaments demonstrate that a person inside the womb has a unique identity, and is spoken to as if to a fully developed, thinking, human:

"Your hands shaped me and made me. Will you now turn and destroy me? Remember that you molded me like clay. Will you now turn me to dust again? Did you not pour me out like milk and curdle me like cheese, clothe me with skin and flesh and knit me together with bones and sinews, You gave me life and showed me kindness, and in your providence watched over my spirit." (Job, 10:8-12)

"This is what the LORD says -- he who made you, who formed you in the womb, and who will help you: Do not be afraid, O Jacob, my servant, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen." (Isaiah, 44:2)

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." (Psalms, 139:13-16)

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." (Jeremiah, 1:5)

"When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby (John) leaped in her womb. In a loud voice she exclaimed:  'blessed are you among women, and blessed is this child you will bear (Jesus). As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy'." (Luke, 1:41-44)

The Quran corroborates this.  In 19:19, the angel sent to Mary, says, "...I am the messenger of your Lord, to grant you a pure son."   The identity of this yet unconceived child is already known, and this identity is revealed to the mother!  Evidence indeed that unborn children are unique individuals, even before their birth into the physical realm

We see this same perspective again, in the story of Moses:
"<referring to Moses>  ... I had you made before My watchful eye." (Quran, 21:34)

"They avoid gross sins and transgressions, except for minor offenses. Your Lord's forgiveness is immense. He has been fully aware of you since He initiated you from the earth, and while you were embryos in your mothers' bellies. Therefore, do not exalt yourselves; He is fully aware of the righteous."   (Quran, 53:32)

The hebrew word used in The Old Testament to refer to the unborn baby is "YELED", which is a word generally used to refer to one's children. A similar word, "AULAD", is used in the Quran for a fetus and it is also used generally to refer to young children in a family.

Among the Scriptures, the Quran, contains by far the most detailed description of the creation of a new human being, leaving no doubt that a new life begins at the time of fertilisation.  The Quran uses some words, which we now know are anatomically accurate in the light of modern scientific data, even though it was revealed 1400 years ago. 

It is now clearly apparent, that the word "Nutfa" in Arabic is used to describe,
a) the sperm or unfertilised male egg , and
b) the zygote or the fertised egg.

The following verses are presented to illustrate the accurate use of these words while describing the creation of the new human being:

a) Unfertilised male sperm:

"He created the human from a tiny drop, then he turns into an ardent opponent." (Quran, 16:4)

"His friend said to him, as he debated with him, "Have you disbelieved in the One who created you from dust, then from a tiny drop, then perfected you into a man?" (Quran, 18:37)

"GOD created you from dust, then from a tiny drop, then He causes you to reproduce through your spouses. No female becomes pregnant, nor gives birth, without His knowledge. No one survives for a long life, and no one's life is snapped short, except in accordance with a pre-existing record. This is easy for GOD."   (Quran, 35:11)

"Does the human being not see that we created him from a tiny drop, then he turns into an ardent enemy?"  (Quran, 36:77)

"from a tiny drop of semen."  (Quran, 53:46)

"Was he not a drop of ejected semen?"  (Quran, 75:37)

"From a tiny drop, He creates him and designs him."   (Quran, 80:19)

b) Fertilised egg / zygote ( male sperm + female ovum):

"O people, if you have any doubt about resurrection, (remember that) we created you from dust, and subsequently from a tiny drop, which turns into a hanging (embryo), then it becomes a fetus that is given life or deemed lifeless. We thus clarify things for you. We settle in the wombs whatever we will for a predetermined period. We then bring you out as infants, then you reach maturity. While some of you die young, others live to the worst age, only to find out that no more knowledge can be attained beyond a certain limit. Also, you look at a land that is dead, then as soon as we shower it with water, it vibrates with life and grows all kinds of beautiful plants."  (Quran, 22:5)

"Subsequently, we reproduced him from a tiny drop, that is placed into a well protected repository.  Then we developed the drop into a hanging (embryo), then developed the hanging (embryo) into a bite-size (fetus), then created the bite-size (fetus) into bones, then covered the bones with flesh. We thus produce a new creature. Most blessed is GOD, the best Creator."  (Quran, 23:13-14)

"He is the One who created you from dust, and subsequently from a tiny drop, then from a hanging embryo, then He brings you out as a child, then He lets you reach maturity, then you become old - some of you die earlier. You attain a predetermined age, that you may understand."  (Quran, 40:67)

Two other words are used also to describe the fertilised egg.  Both terms - translated as 'lowly liquid', and 'mingled fluid', are accurate references of the fluid in which the egg floats.

a) "Maa-in Maheen" (lowly liquid):

"Then He continued his reproduction through a certain lowly liquid."  (Quran, 32:8)

"Did we not create you from a lowly liquid?"   (Quran, 77:20)

b) "Nutfatin Amshaj " (mingled fluid):

"We created the human from a liquid mixture, from two parents, in order to test him. Thus, we made him a hearer and a seer."  (Quran, 76:2)

The word "Alaq" in arabic is used for the Embryo.  A more accurate translation of this word is a "hanging", a "clinging",  or (in a literal sense) a "leech".  As we all know, the blastocyst attatches itself to the wall of the uterus and starts growing from there.  These verses illustrate this:

"O people, if you have any doubt about resurrection, (remember that) we created you from dust, and subsequently from a tiny drop, which turns into a hanging (embryo), then it becomes a fetus that is given life or deemed lifeless. We thus clarify things for you. We settle in the wombs whatever we will for a predetermined period. We then bring you out as infants, then you reach maturity. While some of you die young, others live to the worst age, only to find out that no more knowledge can be attained beyond a certain limit. Also, you look at a land that is dead, then as soon as we shower it with water, it vibrates with life and grows all kinds of beautiful plants."  (Quran, 22:5)

"Then we developed the drop into a hanging (embryo), then developed the hanging (embryo) into a bite-size (fetus), then created the bite-size (fetus) into bones, then covered the bones with flesh. We thus produce a new creature. Most blessed is GOD, the best Creator."  (Quran, 23:14)

"He is the One who created you from dust, and subsequently from a tiny drop, then from a hanging embryo, then He brings you out as a child, then He lets you reach maturity, then you become old - some of you die earlier. You attain a predetermined age, that you may understand."  (Quran, 40:67)

"They avoid gross sins and transgressions, except for minor offenses. Your Lord's forgiveness is immense. He has been fully aware of you since He initiated you from the earth, and while you were embryos in your mothers' bellies. Therefore, do not exalt yourselves; He is fully aware of the righteous."   (Quran, 53:32)

"Then He created an embryo out of it!"  (Quran, 75:38)

"He created man from an embryo."  (Quran, 96:2)

The word "Qaraarin Makeen" translates into a "protected repository", or in today's terminology, the womb, or the uterus:

"Subsequently, we reproduced him from a tiny drop, that is placed into a well protected repository."  (Quran, 23:13)

"Subsequently, we reproduced him from a tiny drop, that is placed into a well protected repository." (Quran, 77:21)

"He created you from one person, then created from him his mate. He sent down to you eight kinds of livestock. He creates you in your mothers' bellies, creation after creation, in trimesters of darkness. Such is GOD your Lord. To Him belongs all sovereignty. There is no other god beside Him. How could you deviate?"   (Quran, 39:6)

And, as an added note, the Quran affirmed 1400 years ago, that it is the male sperm that determines the gender of the baby:

"Was he not a drop of ejected semen? Then He created an embryo out of it! He made it into male or female!"  (Quran, 75:37-39)

The Quran's accurate descriptions of the early human, together with its statements that these beings contain life, clearly establishes the divine position on the issue of abortion.

All three Testaments are unanimous in the condemnation of killing other human beings.   The Scriptures demonstrate that the fetus is, absolutely equal to human beings, as we understand the term.  These verses, then apply as much for a fetus, as it does for the rest of us:

"`Do not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molech, for you must not profane the name of your God. I am the LORD."   (Leviticus, 18:21)

"The LORD said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites: `Any Israelite or any alien living in Israel who gives any of his children to Molech must be put to death. The people of the community are to stone him. I will set my face against that man and I will cut him off from his people; for by giving his children to Molech, he has defiled my sanctuary and profaned my holy name. If the people of the community close their eyes when that man gives one of his children to Molech and they fail to put him to death, I will set my face against that man and his family and will cut off from their people both him and all who follow him in prostituting themselves to Molech."   (Leviticus, 20:1-5)

"You must not worship the LORD your God in their way, because in worshiping their gods, they do all kinds of detestable things the LORD hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods."   (Deuternomy, 12:31)

"...hands that shed innocent blood,"  (Proverbs, 6:17)

"When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you; even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood;"  (Isaiah, 1:15)

"But your eyes and your heart are set only on dishonest gain, on shedding innocent blood and on oppression and extortion."  (Jeremiah, 22:17)

"Say, "Come let me tell you what your Lord has really prohibited for you: You shall not set up idols besides Him. You shall honor your parents. You shall not kill your children from fear of poverty - we provide for you and for them. You shall not commit gross sins, obvious or hidden. You shall not kill - GOD has made life sacred - except in the course of justice. These are His commandments to you, that you may understand." (Quran, 6:151)

"You shall not kill your children due to fear of poverty. We provide for them, as well as for you. Killing them is a gross offense."  (Quran, 17:31)

The combined scientific data and the verses from the scriptures leave no doubt whatsoever that abortion is equivalent to murder, and since God has made life sacred, and He Alone gives life, we have no right to take it:

"You shall not kill any person - for GOD has made life sacred - except in the course of justice. If one is killed unjustly, then we give his heir authority to enforce justice. Thus, he shall not exceed the limits in avenging the murder; he will be helped."  (Quran, 17:33)

The following are some of the questions that are often asked about abortion, and the arguments connected with them:

Q.  What about a woman whose life is threatened by pregnancy or childbirth ?
A.  It is an extremely rare case when abortion is required to save the mother's life. Today, it is possible for almost any patient to be brought through pregnancy alive, unless she suffers from a fatal illness such as cancer, and, if so, abortion would be unlikely to prolong, much less save, life.  Less than 1 in a 1000 abortions are performed to save the mother's life. When two lives are threatened, and only one can be saved, doctors will/must always save that life.  For example, if the mother has fast spreading uterine or cervical cancer, the surgery to remove the cancer may result in the loss of the child's life, if the cancer was detected very early in pregnancy.  If the cancer is slow growing, or was detected much later in pregnancy, doctors normally do a caesarian section as soon as they consider the baby to be viable, thus saving the baby and treating the mother optimally.  There are rare cases in later stages of pregnancy when the mother cannot be saved but the baby can. Again, one life saved is better than two lives lost. If, during an early pregnancy, the mother's life-threatening and  rapidly spreading cancer results in the unborn child's death, it is important to remember that this is a "prolife" decision - the purpose of the treatment/surgery was not to kill the child, but to save the life of the mother, who is just as valuable as the baby.

Q.  What about a woman whose unborn baby is diagnosed as deformed or handicapped?
A.  This is not an acceptable reason for terminating a pregnancy. If the abnormality is incompatible with life, then the baby will die at the appropriate time. If they are major deformities compatible with life, then appropriate steps must be taken to ensure survival. Many major defects especially of the heart and bowel are reparable and compatible with life.  The child's deformities are often minor, for example, cleft lip or cleft palate. These are easily correctable surgically, and these children are healthy in all other ways. Amniocentesis, the procedure done to detect genetic abnormalities, carries a 1.5% risk of miscarrying, which is higher than the incidence of abnormalities detected.  The most common problem detected is Down's syndrome. These children usually require heart surgery,and are moderately retarded.  They are very loving and wonderful people and live long lives, and can be gainfully employed.   Handicapped children are not social liabilities, they are often happy, always precious, and usually delighted and thankful to be alive.  They bring a great deal of love and caring and invariably do a lot more for the parents than a so called "normal child".  Some argue that it is unfair to bring a handicapped child into the world, because he/she will be unhappy.  Yet, studies show that suicide rates are higher in so called "normal" people.  It is the parents who are unhappy and do not want to deal with a handicapped child, hence want to abort it.   Such abortions rob the world of unique human beings who would significantly contribute to society.

It is wise to reflect on the following: if a child that we love is in an accident and is seriously wounded even brain damaged, do we allow it to die?  If we opted to do that, the laws of any country would then treat us as criminals, and charge us with murder. We must understand that it is no different when the baby is in the womb.  Therefore, the arguments for killing a handicapped unborn child are valid only if they also apply to killing born people who are handicapped.

The scriptures deal extensively with this moral issue, pointing clearly that God gives these children as tests in this life and our belief in Him.  The following verses testify to this:

"The LORD said to him, "Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD?"   (Exodus, 4:11)

"As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"  "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life."   (John, 9:1-3)

Q.  What about a woman who is pregnant due to rape or incest?
A.  This is not a reason for terminating a pregnancy. Rape or incest is never the fault of the child; the guilty party, not the innocent party must be punished. The violence of abortion parallels the violence of rape/incest, in fact it exceeds it!   A child is a child regardless of the circumstances of conception.  If the rape/incest victim is unable or unwilling to care for the child, there are numerous childless couples who would pay for the pregnancy and then adopt the child, if it is unwanted.  Many agencies cater to this need.

Q.  What about contraception - does it cause an abortion?
A.  1. The Birth Control Pill: The  Birth Control Pill usually acts by preventing fertilisation by creating an environment similar to menopause (psuedo-menopause), thus the ovary does not produce an egg each month. There are other ways it acts also, but it does not abort a fertilised egg month after month.

2. The Intra-Uterine Device, commonly called the IUD: these are of many kinds; the hormone containing IUD's act like the Birth Control Pill. They may also act by preventing the fertilised egg from attatching to the uterine wall by occupying the cavity of the uterus.

3. Barrier contraception: prevents the sperm from entering the uterus, thus preventing conception.

4. Depo-Provera injection: This is given at three month intervals and acts by preventing ovulation.

5. Tubal Ligation for the female, or Vasectomy for the male: These are permanent procedures done surgically . They can be performed when child bearing is completed. They are minor and safe.

6. The Morning After Pill: when taken 24-48 hours after having sex, the Morning After Pill can prevent fertilisation by making the environment unsuitable. There might be other ways that it acts, which are not completely clear.

The Birth Control Pill, Depo Provera injection, barrier contraception, and tubal ligation for a female, or a vasectomy for the male (once child bearing is over) are the safest methods.

All of these methods preempt the formation of a life.  So, if a life is not present, one has not been taken.  With so many options easily available, an abortion need never be entertained.

Q.  What must be the punishment for a crime such as this?
A.  The Scriptures contain this answer, perhaps best illustrated by this verse:

"O you who believe, do not consume each others' properties illicitly - only mutually acceptable transactions are permitted. You shall not kill yourselves.  GOD is Merciful towards you.  Anyone who commits these transgressions, maliciously and deliberately, we will condemn him to Hell.  This is easy for God to do.  If you refrain from committing the gross sins that are prohibited for you, we will remit your sins, and admit you an honorable admittance."  (Quran, 4:29-31)