I am finding conflicting information on whether or not abortion is permitted unconditionally in Islam or not. Nearly all sources I am finding concede that abortion after 120 days gestation is not permitted; however, there is not a consensus on before 120 days gestation.

The varying information I am receiving is:

• abortion is permitted unconditionally before 40 days (not sure what the reasoning is)
• abortion is permitted unconditionally before 120 days (something about a soul entering the body?)
• abortion is permitted at any time if there is a danger to the mother's health or in cases of rape
• abortion is permitted at any time if the newborn has deformities that will make it difficult for the parents to take care of the child

It seems that the Qu'ran is not explicit about whether or not abortion is permitted. There are verses on "blood money" for the born, but is there anything on the unborn? Is there a definition of when life begins - is it when the child is conceived or when it enters the birth canal? Some sources indicate that there is a Hadith somewhere (I couldn't find it) which says that soul enters the body at 120 days gestation (another says that its 40 days), hence, the reason to permit abortion prior.

On the other hand, there also seems to a big pro-life movement which goes as far as to ask Muslims to work with pro-life Christians in supporting a pro-life stance. The movement strongly believes that life begins at conception and that abortion should not be permitted (unless there is a danger to mother's health).

Seeing that I probably will not be able to get a "yes" or "no" answer to whether abortion is permitted or not, my questions are, according to Islam:

• Does life begin at conception or 40 days or 120 days when the soul enters? Please back this up with verses from the Quran/hadiths.
• What is the Islamic view of an unborn child? Is it equivalent to a born child? (i.e. killing unborn = killing born)