Religious Perspectives on abortion

Christianity

“You created every part of me; You put me together in my mother’s womb… When my bones were being formed, Carefully put me together in my mother’s womb.”

Psalm 139:13, verses 15-16

God creates life. Thus, life is considered as a gift of God and it should be cherished, nourished and protected. In several places in the Bible states that God knew us before we were conceived. God’s love towards all lives was shown when He sent His only Son to die for our sins. One of the Ten Commandments says, “Do not commit murder.” God values the lives of unborn children, then abortion would have to be seen as a crime on the same level as murder, and therefore it is a sin to abort a child.

They believe that there are circumstances in which terminating an unborn foetus is justified. Although the fetus is to be specially respected and protected, nonetheless, abortion is permissible if it endangers the life of the mother”

Buddhism
Dalai Lama: “Of course, abortion, from a Buddhist viewpoint, is an act of killing and is negative, generally speaking. But it depends on the circumstances. If the unborn child will be retarded or if the birth will create serious problems for the parent, these are cases where there can be an exception."

Buddhism generally disapproves abortion. Abortion is considered as an act of destructing a living being, and a violation of the First Precept.
Nevertheless, abortion might be allowed in specific, limited circumstances. Buddhism recognizes there are times when an abortion might be necessary - when the mother's life is at risk.

Hinduism

Gandhi, perhaps the most respected Hindu of the twentieth century, said: "It seems to me clear as daylight that abortion would be a crime."

Hinduism teaches that abortion is a great crime thwarts a soul in its progress toward God. It teaches that the fetus is a living, conscious person needing and deserving protection. Hindu scriptures refer to abortion as garha-batta (womb killing) and bhroona hathya (killing the undeveloped soul) and the Atharva Veda remarks that abortionist as the greatest of sinners.

Islam
Kill not your offspring for fear of poverty; it is We who provide for them and for you. Surely, killing them is a great sin.

Qur'an 17:32

Islam teaches that life begins at conception and is the creation of God. Therefore, life is considered as a sacred gift from God Almighty. No one is allowed to take or stop the life of anyone else except by way of justice or according to the Islamic law. Abortion on any grounds is forbidden in the Islamic holy book Al'Quran.

Muslim scholars generally regard abortion as wrong and forbidden. However, abortion is only permitted if the woman's life is threatened by pregnancy as this is believed as the 'lesser of two evils' and there is a general principle in Sharia (Muslim law) of choosing the lesser of two evils.