Islamic Perspective On Stem Cell Research.

[SummerRain]

Anyone know of a good site that I can get reliable info concerning this subject? I have read few articles online and they all have difference of opinion. Thank You in Advance.

[Kolombo]

Couldn't find anything about it on my favorite site (islamqa.com), but was able to find these:

http://www.crescentlife.com/wellness/st ... ective.htm

http://www.angelfire.com/la/IslamicView/StemCell.html

http://org.law.rutgers.edu/publications ... _ND_56.pdf

[black velvet]

Our answer is that the embryo in this stage is not human. It is not in its natural environment, the womb. If it is not placed in the womb it will not survive and it will not become a human being. So there is nothing wrong in doing this research, especially if this research has a potential to cure diseases. However, it is important that we establish strict rules against the misuse of embryos. Research on embryos has the potential for misuse, for instance in regards to the donors of these cells, and we should anticipate what these misuses might be and establish safeguards against them. (For example, doctors might have infertility patient go through extra cycles of ovulation just so they can obtain more embryos, or they might pay women to produce embryos, or embryos might be obtained without the consent of the donors). In making rules the authorities should also clarify that there is a difference between the use of “spare” embryos from in vitro fertilization procedures which would be destroyed regardless, as compared to the deliberate production of embryos for stem cell research. Each year thousands of embryos are wasted in fertility clinics around the world. Such embryos should not be wasted, they should be used for research.

This makes sense. Lakin for some reason I assumed a lot of scholars would shun the idea completely.

[Cawar]

Its a murky area.. but if anything its a borderline haram in my opinion.. not for the intent per se, but for the potential abuse that might result the legalization of it in Islam.

Wallahu Aclam.

[Madd_Scientist_]

Our answer is that the embryo in this stage is not human. It is not in its natural environment, the womb. If it is not placed in the womb it will not survive and it will not become a human being. So there is nothing wrong in doing this research, especially if this research has a potential to cure diseases. However, it is important that we establish strict rules against the misuse of embryos. Research on embryos has the potential for misuse, for instance in regards to the donors of these cells, and we should anticipate what these misuses might be and establish safeguards against them. (For example, doctors might have infertility patient go through extra cycles of ovulation just so they can obtain more embryos, or they might pay women to produce embryos, or embryos might be obtained without the consent of the donors). In making rules the authorities should also clarify that there is a difference between the use of “spare” embryos from in vitro fertilization procedures which would be destroyed regardless, as compared to the deliberate production of embryos for stem cell research. Each year thousands of embryos are wasted in fertility clinics around the world. Such embryos should not be wasted, they should be used for research.

This makes sense. Lakin for some reason I assumed a lot of scholars would shun the idea completely.

That's what i thought as well BV, i know a lot of muslims are against it because they think don't think anyone should play God.

[Kolombo]

I think there are three issues that need to be identified as far as stem cell research is concerned:

1-How did the fertilization of the embryo come about?

-I read somewhere in vitro fertilization/artificial insemination is permitted only if the couple are married.

If you insist on artificial insemination then you have to take the strictest precautions to keep an eye on the sample and ensure that it is inserted immediately in your wife’s uterus by a female doctor whose religious commitment is trustworthy. And you should avoid doing this during the day in Ramadaan because there is no urgency.

http://www.islam-qa.com/en/ref/49727/ar ... semination

Married couples who cannot have pregnancy in a normal way are allowed to have in vitro fertilization as long as the fertilized ovum is placed in the womb of the woman from whom the egg the was taken (not a surrogate mother). The fertilization has to be with the sperm of her lawful husband during their married life, not after divorce or after the death of the husband. This is the general conclusion of various Muslim jurists’ meetings that discussed this subject.

http://www.crescentlife.com/wellness/st ... ective.htm

2-Can a few day old embryo that was produced through artificial fertilization be considered a living thing?
-It takes about 40 days in the womb for an embryo to be considered a living thing in Islam and the source is the Qur'an and hadiths.

Muslim jurists have made a clear distinction between the early stages of pregnancy (first 40 days) and its later stages. It is mentioned that if someone attacks a pregnant woman and aborts her baby in the early stages of her pregnancy, that person’s punishment will be less than that of the person who does that during full pregnancy. And if he kills the child after the birth, then he is liable to be punished for homicide.

http://www.crescentlife.com/wellness/st ... ective.htm

It depends on the stage of the embryonic development, even in abortions, there are different rulings depending on the tri-mester of the pregnancy. There are even some rulings which allow abortions as long as its in the first 40 days.

If the pregnancy is in the first stage, which is forty days, and aborting it will serve a legitimate shar’i interest or ward off some harm, then it is permissible to abort it. But aborting it at this stage for fear of difficulty in bringing up children or in providing for them or teaching them, or fear for their future, or because the couple feel that they have enough children – this is not permitted.

http://www.islam-qa.com/en/ref/11195/embryo

2-Is it acceptable to destroy an embryo for the sake of research?
-Some scholars argue fertilized eggs shouldn't be kept around because they have the potential to become living things and can easily be manipulated which can raise loads of moral dillemas. Others argue since they don't have a soul yet, they can be kept as long as their use outweighs any negative outcome.

Our answer is that the embryo in this stage is not human. It is not in its natural environment, the womb. If it is not placed in the womb it will not survive and it will not become a human being. So there is nothing wrong in doing this research, especially if this research has a potential to cure diseases. However, it is important that we establish strict rules against the misuse of embryos. Research on embryos has the potential for misuse, for instance in regards to the donors of these cells, and we should anticipate what these misuses might be and establish safeguards against them. (For example, doctors might have infertility patient go through extra cycles of ovulation just so they can obtain more embryos, or they might pay women to produce embryos, or embryos might be obtained without the consent of the donors). In making rules the authorities should also clarify that there is a difference between the use of “spare” embryos from in vitro fertilization procedures which would be destroyed regardless, as compared to the deliberate production of embryos for stem cell research. Each year thousands of embryos are wasted in fertility clinics around the world. Such embryos should not be wasted, they should be used for research.

http://www.crescentlife.com/wellness/st ... ective.htm

+This is one of those issues that is open to different concensus, we accept the scholar that presents the strongest evidence in its permissibility.

[SummerRain]

I think there are three issues that need to be identified as far as stem cell research is concerned:

1-How did the fertilization of the embryo come about?

-I read somewhere in vitro fertilization/artificial insemination is permitted only if the couple are married.

If you insist on artificial insemination then you have to take the strictest precautions to keep an eye on the sample and ensure that it is inserted immediately in your wife’s uterus by a female doctor whose religious commitment is trustworthy. And you should avoid doing this during the day in Ramadaan because there is no urgency.

http://www.islam-qa.com/en/ref/49727/ar ... semination

Married couples who cannot have pregnancy in a normal way are allowed to have in vitro fertilization as long as the fertilized ovum is placed in the womb of the woman from whom the egg the was taken (not a surrogate mother). The fertilization has to be with the sperm of her lawful husband during their married life, not after divorce or after the death of the husband. This is the general conclusion of various Muslim jurists’ meetings that discussed this subject.

http://www.crescentlife.com/wellness/st ... ective.htm

2-Can a few day old embryo that was produced through artificial fertilization be considered a living thing?
-It takes about 40 days in the womb for an embryo to be considered a living thing in Islam and the source is the Qur'an and hadiths.

Muslim jurists have made a clear distinction between the early stages of pregnancy (first 40 days) and its later stages. It is mentioned that if someone attacks a pregnant woman and aborts her baby in the early stages of her pregnancy, that person’s punishment will be less than that of the person who does that during full pregnancy. And if he kills the child after the birth, then he is liable to be punished for homicide.

http://www.crescentlife.com/wellness/st ... ective.htm

It depends on the stage of the embryonic development, even in abortions, there are different rulings depending on the tri-mester of the pregnancy. There are even some rulings which allow abortions as long as its in the first 40 days.

If the pregnancy is in the first stage, which is forty days, and aborting it will serve a legitimate shar’i interest or ward off some harm, then it is permissible to abort it. But aborting it at this stage for fear of difficulty in bringing up children or in providing for them or teaching them, or fear for their future, or because the couple feel that they have enough children – this is not permitted.

http://www.islam-qa.com/en/ref/11195/embryo

2-Is it acceptable to destroy an embryo for the sake of research?
-Some scholars argue fertilized eggs shouldn't be kept around because they have the potential to become living things and can easily be manipulated which can raise loads of moral dillemas. Others argue since they don't have a soul yet, they can be kept as long as their use outweighs any negative outcome.

Our answer is that the embryo in this stage is not human. It is not in its natural environment, the womb. If it is not placed in the womb it will not survive and it will not become a human being. So there is nothing wrong in doing this research, especially if this research has a potential to cure diseases. However, it is important that we establish strict rules against the misuse of embryos. Research on embryos has the potential for misuse, for instance in regards to the donors of these cells, and we should anticipate what these misuses might be and establish safeguards against them. (For example, doctors might have infertility patient go through extra cycles of ovulation just so they can obtain more embryos, or they might pay women to produce embryos, or embryos might be obtained without the consent of the donors). In making rules the authorities should also clarify that there is a difference between the use of “spare” embryos from in vitro fertilization procedures which would be destroyed regardless, as compared to the deliberate production of embryos for stem cell research. Each year thousands of embryos are wasted in fertility clinics around the world. Such embryos should not be wasted, they should be used for research.

http://www.crescentlife.com/wellness/st ... ective.htm

+This is one of those issues that is open to different concensus, we accept the scholar that presents the strongest evidence in its permissibility.

This helped alot. My problem was the distinction between actual life and potential life Islamically...so to speak.

[Kolombo]

This helped alot. My problem was the distinction between actual life and potential life Islamically...so to speak.

Thats also the same argument anti-stem cell groups use. They argue these fertilized eggs are being denied a chance to fully develop in to living beings, but will instead get turned in to other types of cellular embryos to treat a multitude of diseases or disorders. Pro-stem cell groups on the other hand claim that the fertilized eggs are left-overs from in-vitro or artificial fertilization and will most likely get destroyed, so they ask why not use them instead?

[Aerosmith]

Ismahan thanks for reminding me how Obama royally screwed me today by wasting time on trivial stuff lifting the restrictions on federal funding on stem cells instead of concentrating on immediate problems like financials? Thanks you OBAMA, so much for the change we believe in!

[Hoowle]

What's the source of the Islamic "perspective?" religious dogma?


here is a more secular (although it incorporates religious views) and philosophical argument questioning the merits of stem cell research: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioethics

[Amadeus101]

I've always been more concerned with addressing the exisiting health issues that we have today rather than splitting hairs in terms of when life begins. Only then we can achieve our full potential as a race of people when talking about cures!