Should a single Muslim man who committed adultery with a woman and got her pregnant marry her, or is convincing her to abort the fetus—when it is in its sixth or eighth week—considered killing a soul?

Firstly: The one who commits adultery must hasten to sincere repentance before death comes, for the door to repentance is open.

Secondly: It is not permissible for the fornicator and the fornicatress to marry each other except after sincere repentance, and they must increase in good deeds. If he wishes to marry her after repentance, it is obligatory to ensure her womb is clear by one menstrual cycle. If she is pregnant, it is not permissible to contract marriage with her until after she has given birth.

Thirdly: The child born of adultery is not attributed to the fornicator according to the majority of scholars, for the child belongs to the bed (legitimate marriage).

Fourthly: It is not permissible to abort a pregnancy except for a legitimate reason and within very narrow limits. Aborting it within forty days is permissible if there is a legitimate benefit or to avert harm. However, after that, it is not permissible unless a trusted medical committee determines that the continuation of the pregnancy poses a danger to the mother's life after exhausting all means.