Ghusl And Janaazah For A Miscarried Baby

Whether the miscarriage occurred before or after 4 months, the criteria to consider is whether any limbs of the baby (hands, nose, mouth, etc) were formed or not. If no limbs at all were formed, then neither will the foetus be given Ghusl, nor will it be wrapped in the normal Kafan, nor will it be given a name. It will merely be wrapped in a single cloth and buried and the grave will be levelled with the ground.

If, on the other hand, the full foetus was formed or at least some limbs were formed, then the Ulama differ in this case with regard to the ruling of whether the complete Sunnat procedure will be considered in Ghusal, Kafan and burial or not. Some say that it should be done according to Sunnat (by applying the rules applicable to a fully-formed still-born child) and some say it should not be done according to Sunnat.

The preferred view and verdict is that the Sunnah procedure with regard to Ghusal, Kafan and Burial will be implemented and a name will also be given to the foetus. In both of the above two scenarios where a miscarriage occurred, since seeing that the child was not born alive, Janazah Salaah will not be performed on it.