A woman having an abortion during the seventh month and leaving the babies to die

Q: Fifty years ago, a woman aborted twin babies in the seventh month of her pregnancy. She thought that they would die because they were not in their full growth. She thus did not care about them, did not breastfeed them or give them any kind of food, and was only busy with her own self. No medical care was available at that time and the two babies died less than one day after they were born. The concerned mother is more than eighty years old now, and she can not observe Sawm (Fast). What then does she have to do?

A: If reality is exactly as what is mentioned in the question, such a mother has to make a Kaffarah (expiation) for each baby. One Kaffarah is to free a believing slave or, in case of inability to do so, (Part No. 21; Page No. 421) to observe Sawm (Fast) for two successive months.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.