What Is Spiritual Abortion? What Are Its Causes and How Can It Be Prevented?

Imagine a pregnant mother in her last weeks of pregnancy, eagerly and anxiously counting down the moments to see and hold her beloved newborn. Throughout nine months of pregnancy, both the father and mother have spared no effort to make sure the birth of their baby will be without any problems. Now if someone asks you what the most bitter event in the sweet atmosphere of those final days of pregnancy would be, you would probably say: an incident leading to the loss or spontaneous abortion of the fetus. For example, if the mother consumes unhealthy food, suffers a blow, or experiences any other dangerous incident, it could end the fetus’s life and deprive him of the opportunity to live in the world.

The spontaneous abortion of the fetus is a painful incident that affects parents, relatives, and even the fetus himself. This example was an introduction to discuss the concept of abortion. In order to become more familiar with this concept, let us review the characteristics and incidents of the fetal period.

We all have at least limited information about the fetal period and the precise and planned developments that occur during these months. We are well aware that the human body develops in a safe and secure place called the womb in order to start life in this vast world. This place not only protects the fetus from potential risks and diseases, but also provides all the necessary nutrients which the fetus needs to develop his organs and body tissues. Pregnancy does not last for a long time, but the quality of this very limited time is crucial for the fetus. If the baby is born strong and healthy, he will be able to use various resources of the world in the future and walk the path of progress swiftly and joyfully.

Everything has gone well so far, but the problem is that not all babies are born strong and healthy. Many newborns are disabled, ill, or even stillborn, which means they lose the chance of having a normal life or continuing their existence altogether. All of these birth defects and stillbirths are clear signs of an unhealthy fetal period. Specialists in this field provide various definitions for spontaneous abortion, but in simple words, it can be defined as the fetus’s disconnection from his sole source of life, i.e., the mother.

To become more familiar with the concept of spontaneous abortion, let us examine why it happens.

What Are the Causes of Abortion?

The growth and continuation of fetal life in the mother’s womb depend on maintaining his connection with two important organs, i.e., the placenta and the umbilical cord. The placenta is a temporary and flat tissue in the womb that connects the mother and the fetus to each other. As we know, the fetus does not have the ability to breathe and get rid of waste products. The placenta performs these two important functions: It delivers nutrients and oxygen to the fetus from the mother’s blood and removes waste products from the fetus’s blood. Additionally, the placenta plays an important role in boosting the baby’s immune system for months after birth.

The umbilical cord, which can be likened to a rope, is responsible for transferring blood, i.e., nutrients and oxygen, from the placenta to the fetus. In fact, through complex and precise processes, nutrients and oxygen are taken from the mother’s body, and after entering the placenta, they are carried to the fetus through the umbilical cord vein. Waste products are removed from the fetus’s body by the arteries of the umbilical cord .

Even if we consider the function of the placenta and umbilical cord to be this limited, we see that the continuation of the fetus’s life depends on his connection with these two organs. In fact, the main cause of abortion is the disconnection of the fetus from the umbilical cord and placenta. Any incident that results in the disruption of carrying nutrients and oxygen to the fetus and the removal of waste from his body disconnects the fetus from his only source of life, i.e., his mother. This incident is commonly referred to as abortion.

Does Abortion Only Happen to the Fetus?

From the time the fetus is a single-celled zygote to the moment of birth, he is always at the risk of being aborted and losing his connection with his only source of life, i.e., his mother. Similarly, from the time the human soul enters the material world until its birth into the hereafter, it is in danger of being disconnected from its source or losing relationship with its God and Creator.

Just like our bodies, our soul needs a space similar to the womb to go through the stages of spiritual perfection and prepare for the hereafter. This second womb is none other than worldly life, a limited lifetime with an extraordinary constructive capability. The more the human soul feeds on the transcendent and pure sources in the womb of the world, the stronger it becomes. These sources are everyone’s decisions, relationships, behaviors, and thoughts. On the contrary, if the soul suffers from spiritual malnutrition, then one must await unpleasant consequences such as experiencing spiritual weaknesses and entering the hereafter in an unhealthy state. Simply put, in this case the human soul undergoes spiritual abortion and will never achieve true bliss.

What Are the Consequences of Spiritual Abortion?

In the previous section, we stated that the sources of nourishment for the human soul are our decisions, relationships, behaviors, and thoughts. When we say someone has had inappropriate spiritual nourishment and experienced absorption, it means that she has fed her soul on everything, regardless of any rational consideration and any attention to her divine fitrah.

Naturally, we cannot expect true strength and vitality from such a soul. This poor soul loses the precious opportunity to live in the womb of the world. So, it begins its eternal life in the hereafter without any preparation. Since it lacks the tools to use the resources of the hereafter, it encounters endless torment and hardships. Just like a baby who is born blind and is not able to understand what it means to see the loved ones and the beauty and wonders of the world until the end of his life.

What Must We Do to Prevent Spiritual Abortion?

We have often heard this statement that successful people use certain criteria in their lives. Their decisions in life and relationships with others are in accordance with these criteria. This group of people only entertain thoughts that align with their criteria. The more these criteria are compatible with the divine fitrah of the human being, the healthier and stronger the soul is.

By carefully considering what our soul feeds on, we can free ourselves from spiritual stagnation and beautifully build an eternal life in the hereafter.

Stay with us in the upcoming articles as we get to know this path better step by step.