Is my past abortion forgiven if I become Muslim?

Islam wipes out the past

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ told a companion who was worried about his past: "Are you not aware of the fact that Islam wipes out all the previous (misdeeds)?" (Sahih Muslim 121).

There's no exception list. That includes the things you've never told anyone.

Allah replaces bad with good

One of the most hopeful verses in the Quran speaks about people who turn to Allah after serious sins:

What if it happened after you became Muslim?

The door of repentance is still open. Sincere repentance means feeling regret, asking Allah's forgiveness, and resolving not to repeat it. The Quran promises that whoever seeks forgiveness "will find Allah Forgiving and Merciful" (Quran 4:110).

What Islam teaches about abortion

Going forward, it helps to know the basic position. Scholars differ about the earliest weeks of pregnancy: some allow abortion for serious reasons early on (the cut-off varies between 40 and 120 days), others are stricter. After about 120 days, when many scholars say the soul is breathed into the baby, all schools forbid abortion except to save the mother's life. These are serious matters, and in a difficult pregnancy you should speak with both a doctor and a scholar.

Healing from the past

Many women, and men, carry grief, guilt or confusion after an abortion, even years later. That's human. A few gentle steps can help:

• Talk to Allah honestly in your own words, at any time.
• If the grief is heavy, consider a counselor, ideally one who respects your faith.
• You don't have to tell anyone, including a future spouse or your imam, unless you choose to.
• Do good deeds with hope, not with fear.

See also Are all my sins forgiven when I become Muslim?

Islam encourages people to keep their past sins private. If someone tries to shame you for something Allah has already forgiven, that's their failing, not yours.