FORCE MAJEURE IN ABORTION: A REVIEW OF ULAMA FATWAS AND INDONESIAN HEALTH LAW

Dedi Masri; Randy Putra Alamsyah

doi:10.33102/mjsl.vol14no1.1179

Authors

Dedi Masri State Islamic University of North Sumatra, Jl. William Iskandar Ps. V, Medan Estate, Kec. Percut Sei Tuan, Kabupaten Deli Serdang, Sumatera Utara 20371, Indonesia
Randy Putra Alamsyah Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University Jakarta, Jl. Ir H. Juanda No.95, Ciputat, Ciputat Tim., South Tangerang City, Banten 15412, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0009-0008-4054-1326

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33102/mjsl.vol14no1.1179

Keywords:

Force majeure, abortion, fatwa ulama, health law, Indonesia

Abstract

Abortion is an issue that frequently sparks controversy within the Muslim community. One such controversy was triggered by a fatwa issued by the Indonesian Women’s Ulama Congress (KUPI), an organization focused on women’s empowerment, which permits abortion for rape victims without restrictions on the stage of pregnancy. The fatwa is regarded as a step toward protecting victims from severe psychological distress. However, the permissibility of abortion continues to generate debate, particularly concerning the health implications for women who undergo the procedure. From a humanitarian perspective, abortion is also viewed as the loss of life, especially when the fetus has already developed fully. Although KUPI offers positive considerations, abortion remains contrary to the principles of Islamic law, particularly Maqasid al-Shariah, which emphasizes the safeguarding of human life (Hifz al-Nafs) and lineage (Hifz al-Nasl). Moreover, abortion is also prohibited under Indonesian positive law. This study employs a qualitative approach using discourse analysis to examine the KUPI fatwa on abortion. The method focuses on analyzing how arguments and justifications are constructed within the fatwa in relation to Islamic law and health law perspectives. The findings show that the fatwa places primary emphasis on the psychological emergency faced by rape victims. By examining this emphasis within the frameworks of Islamic legal objectives and Indonesian health law, the study demonstrates how emergency-based fatwa reasoning may overlook interconnected social, legal, and medical consequences that are equally critical in determining women’s long-term protection. As a result, the analysis suggests that reliance on psychological necessity alone risks narrowing the scope of emergency justification and may unintentionally expose victims to broader harms if not supported by a more comprehensive legal and ethical framework. This study contributes to knowledge by bridging the gap between religious fatwas and positive legal frameworks, offering a more comprehensive perspective on abortion regulation in emergency situations.

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