Ma`rifat Farhangi Ejtemaei

Human beings possess an innate fondness for children; however, even in the 21st century, infanticide is perpetrated for motivations that occasionally resemble those of pre-Islamic Arabs. This study seeks to uncover the specific roots of such behaviors, categorized under female infanticide, infanticide, and abortion. Its objective is to analyze and critique these motivations through the lens of Qur'anic verses and narrations. Employing a library-based method for data collection and a descriptive-analytical-exegetical approach, the research findings indicate that: 1. Misguided beliefs, such as considering daughters creations of Satan or harboring misplaced protective jealousy motivated female infanticide in the pre-Islamic era; 2. The belief that parents are the sole providers for children led to infanticide under conditions of poverty; 3. In contemporary society, the desire to limit family size, occurrences of unwanted pregnancy, and the belief in bodily autonomy are the primary and recurrent motivations for abortion; 4. Poverty is a common causal factor for both infanticide in the pre-Islamic era and abortion in the modern world. These results demonstrate that, despite differences between the two historical periods, certain underlying commonalities persist.