“And kill not the soul which Allah has forbidden save for just cause. And whoso is killed wrongfully, We have surely given his heir authority to demand retaliation, but let him not exceed the prescribed bounds in slaying; for therein he is helped by law.” [17:34]
It declares it unlawful to kill a soul, the killing of which has been forbidden by God. The Qur’an has used the former word to bring home the fact that the killing of children is a crime at which human nature recoils and only a person devoid of all human feelings is capable of committing it. The verse also indicates that it is not killing by a lethal weapon or by poisoning or other similar means that is meant here. This latter kind of killing has been clearly mentioned in v. 34.
The commandment forbidding “the killing of children” is followed by another equally weighty injunction about adultery, The Qur’an clearly declares “And come not near unto adultery; surely, it is a foul thing and an evil way. [17:33]
Because, adultery also causes the death of innumerable children, for to prevent pregnancy contraceptives are used and if despite precaution pregnancy does take place, abortion is resorted to. All these are different forms of infanticide.