'All is done by Allah'. Understandings of Down syndrome and prenatal testing in Pakistan

► While some parents of children with Down Syndrome (DS) in Pakistan view their child as a family tragedy, others view them as a blessing. ► The 'will of Allah' is central to a belief that people with DS are born for a 'higher purpose'. ► Religious beliefs inform but do not 'predict' attitudes towards abortion in Pakistani Muslims. ► Abortion attitudes are also informed by the perceived unacceptability of a child with DS to the extended family