When is life breathed into the foetus?

The Qur’an instructs us that the ruh (soul) is something known only to Allah. Bearing this in mind, a Muslim should concentrate on what brings him spiritual fulfillment. Here it is important to note that when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about the nature of the soul, Almighty Allah instructed him to answer them in plain words: “They will ask thee concerning the soul. Say: The soul is by command of my Lord, and of knowledge ye have been vouchsafed but little” (Al-Israa‘: 85).

The eminent Muslim scholar and renowned Da`iyah, Sheikh `Abdel Khaliq Hasan Ash-Shareef, states: “The majority of Muslim scholars and scientists are of the opinion that life is breathed into the fetus on the 40 or 41 or 42 day after conception. However, one should not busy his mind with such issue whose details are known only to Allah”