Other Bioethical Issues

Cloning
Cloning is a process by which a precise genetic
copy of a molecule, cell, plant, animal or human
being is created.
There are two types of cloning:
Reproductive cloning: is the creation of a
clone for the purpose of allowing it to
progress to the birth of a living child.
Therapeutic cloning: creates a clone and
then destroys it at an early stage in order to
harvest embryonic stem cells from it or to
use it to produce medicines or for research.
The Muslim Response

Islam embraces scientific progress and research, as throughout Islamic history there has been no
evidence of conflict between Islam and science. In fact, it is regarded as Fard Kifayah (collective
duty) in Islam for a nation to achieve progress in every field of science. However, this progress,
like everything in life, must not collide with faith. It must move in parallel with the limitations set by
religion, which must prevail over mans course of life and customize it according to its principles.
Permissibility Conditions for Animal Cloning:
It must bring about a real benefit to all people,
It must not result in harm which is greater than the benefit it has produced,
It must not bear any kind of harm to the animal used in the process; causing harm or torture to
an animal is forbidden in Islam.
Human Cloning Is Forbidden in Islam:
Viewed from the Islamic general objectives, rulings, and texts, human cloning is completely
prohibited. Islam prohibits such cloning because of the following reasons:
It contradicts with diversity of creation: Allah has created the universe on the base of diversity
while human cloning is based on duplicating the same characteristics of the original bodies.
This bears great corruption to human life, even though we did not realize all its forms.
If human cloning is permitted, how will we determine the relation of the cloned in regard to the
original will he be his brother, his father, or even himself? This is a confusing point.
Cloning contradicts with the pattern of creating things in pairs, as Allah said in His Glorious
Quran And of everything We have created pairs, that ye may receive instruction. (Az-Zariyat:
49). Cloning goes against this principle since it depends on only one gender. And this matter
will cause harm to people.
Knowing that man cannot live alone even in Paradise, Allah, the Exalted and Glorified, created
Hawwa (Eve) along with Adam to stay with him in Paradise, and thus they would be a source of
love and intimacy to one another. It is not only parents who need one another in order to
proceed with life, but also their offspring need them both. All these meanings can never be
acquired through cloning.
Cloning and Treatment of Disease:
It becomes clear from the above discussion that cloning a whole human body is completely
prohibited even if it is for the purpose of treatment. However, if it goes into cloning only specific
parts of the human body such as heart and kidneys, for the purpose of treatment, this is permitted
and actually recommended and rewarded by Allah.

Quotes:
We created you from a single pair of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes,
that you may know each other. (Quran 49:13)
Who created you from a single person, created, of like nature, his mate, and from them scattered
like seeds countless men and women. (Quran 4:1)
For every ailment (except old age) there is a remedy. (Hadith)
Cloning - the infringement on the individuality and identity of the person, undermining the stability
of the social order and the destruction of the bases of blood relationships and established age-old
family ties. 9th Fiqh Medical Seminar (held in 1997)
As long as the crucial factor of familial heredity is guaranteed, both Sunni and Shii scholars will,
by and large, permit the therapeutic uses of cloning. (Kyriakides-Yeldham)

In-vitro Fertilisation
In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is a technique in which egg cells are fertilised by sperm outside the woman's
womb, in vitro. IVF is a major treatment in infertility when other methods of assisted reproductive
technology have failed.
The process involves hormonally controlling the ovulatory process, removing ova (eggs) from the woman's
ovaries and letting sperm fertilise them in a fluid medium. The fertilised egg (zygote) is then transferred to
the patient's uterus with the intent to establish a successful pregnancy.
Certain ethical issues have been raised since the development of IVF. These concerns include:
Bypassing the natural method of conception
The creation of life in the laboratory
Fertilisation of more embryos than will be needed
Discarding of excess embryos
Unnatural environment for embryos
Creation and freezing of embryos
Exposure of embryos to unnatural substances
Destruction of embryos in research
Potential to create embryos for medical purposes
Artificial Insemination whats the difference?
Artificial Insemination is the placing sperm into either the cervix or uterus to achieve pregnancy.
Heterologous insemination involves the use of a sperm sample from a donor to achieve
fertilisation. Homologous insemination involves the use of a sperm sample from the
partner/husband to achieve fertilisation.

The Muslim Response

The Islamic ruling on IVF is consistent with rulings on reproduction in general. The procedure is
Islamically acceptable and commendable, but only if it solely involves husband and wife and if it is
performed during the span of their marriage.
Quotes:
Did We not create you from a despised water (semen)?. Then We placed it in a place of safety
(womb). For a known period (determined by gestation)?. So We did measure; and We are the
Best to measure (the things). (Quran, 77:20-23)
There is no disease Allah has created, except that he has also created its treatment. (Hadith)
Responding to the question, Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi, former President of the Islamic Society of
North America, states the following: "In vitro fertilization is a new biomedical method to help
couples who are otherwise not able to have a child through normal husband/wife relationship.
Modern Muslim jurists did research on this method and in the light of the Shari`ah principles have
given their opinions. In the following, I am going to give a summary of their modern ijtihad on this
subject.
First of all let me explain briefly what is in vitro fertilization. It is a biomedical method that is
generally used when, due to some obstruction, the sperm of the husband cannot reach the ovum.
In this case the ovum is removed from her ovary at the time of ovulation.

This ovum is then exposed to the husband's sperm in vitro in the hope that it will be fertilized. The
fertilized ovum is then maintained in a test tube and at a later stage when it becomes an embryo it
is deposited in the woman's uterus. Thus, a woman who would otherwise not be able to conceive
a baby is able to have a normal pregnancy and the couple enjoys the child.
Based on the principle that the Shari`ah came to protect and preserve the lineage or nasab of the
people and thus it is haram to marry a woman during her `iddah or to have an intercourse with a
woman who is carrying another person's pregnancy, the Muslim jurists have allowed the use of in
vitro fertilization only between legally married couples during their marriage.
Thus in vitro fertilization is permissible as long as the semen and ovum are from the couple who
are legally married and the fertilization takes place during their marriage, not after divorce or the
death of the husband.
A divorced woman is not allowed to receive the fertilized ovum (embryo) from her ex-husband.
Similarly, a widow is not allowed to take it after the death of her husband. Surrogacy, i.e., giving
the embryo to another woman to carry on the pregnancy in her womb is also not permissible in
Islam. It also not permissible for a Muslim woman to act as a surrogate mother."
Excerpted with slight modifications from www.isna.net

Organ Donation
Organ donation is generally permissible in Islam if it is done within the limits of Shariah law. In the
case of a living donor, they must understand their actions, be an adult, donate of their own free will
and must not donate a vital organ. Donation of an organ whose loss would usually cause little
harm or minimal increased risk to the health or life of the donor is generally acceptable. It invokes
the principle of accepting the lesser one when faced with two evils. The harm done by the
disease, which can kill a human life, is not to be compared to the harm incurred by donation.
In the case of a deceased donor, consent should be ideally gained before death, or given by
relatives after death, the organ or tissue must be able to save life or maintain quality of life and the
organ may only be removed once death has been determined through reliable medical
procedures. In short, the principle of saving human life takes precedence over the harm that
might befall the corpse provided the corpse is not desecrated but rather handled and treated with
respect.
A minority of Muslim scholars forbid organ donation on the grounds that it violates the sacredness
of the human body for both the donor and the recipient. Islam also prohibits mutilation of the
body, for example in autopsies and cremation.
Intention is very important in Islam. Prophet Muhammad stated that actions will be judged
according to intentions. Organ transplants are not exempt from this approach to intentions.
Quotes:
Whosoever kills any person without another soul being involved or for causing corruption in the
earth, it shall be as if he had killed all mankind and whosoever saves the life of one it shall be as if
he had saved the life of all mankind. (Quran 5:32)
Donation of organs is not an act of transgression against the body. On the contrary, it is an act of
charity and benevolence to other fellow humans, which God loves and encourages. (Dr M.A.
Albar, Fountain Magazine)
In the case of a living donor, the principle of doing no harm is invoked. The donor cannot give a
vital organ, risking his own life. That would be an act of suicide. (Dr M.A. Albar, Fountain
Magazine)