Cloning
http://www.muslims.net/iol-english/dowalia/techng-15-10/techng1b.asp
From an Islamic perspective, two issues have been discussed regarding cloning. First, does it bring into question Islam’s belief about Allah’s attribute as the Creator in any way? Second, should it be permitted? The Islamic Fiqh Council first contacted the Organization of Muslim Doctors in Kuwait and organized a preliminary conference in Casablanca. Then the issue was discussed in the meeting of 1997. The medical experts were also invited to the meeting who explained the process and its implications to the Academy. Regarding the first issue, there was a consensus that cloning does not bring into question any Islamic belief in any way. Allah is the Creator of the universe but He has established the system of cause-and-effect in this world. Sowing a seed in the ground is the cause but only Allah produces the effect from it in the form of a plant. Similarly cloning is a cause and only through Allah’s Will it can produce the effect. Just as the person sowing the seed is not the creator of the resulting plant, so the cloning technician is not the creator of the resulting animal. Allah alone is the Creator and all creation takes place solely through His Will. Regarding the question of permissibility, the majority of the council members after discussion reached the conclusion that cloning is permissible in case of plants as well as in case of animals except human beings. The extension of cloning to human beings would create extremely complex and intractable social and moral problems. Therefore cloning of human beings cannot be permitted. (Al Balagh)
Genetic Engineering
http://www.islamset.com/bioethics/genetics/genetics.html
Genetics, Genetic Engineering, the Human Genes, and Genetic Treatment - An Islamic Perspective : Seminar held in October 1998
The Seminar discussed genetic engineering and the reservations surrounding it since it first emerged in the 1970’s, regarding the potential risks involved in its unregulated practice. It is seen as a double-edged sword that can be equally used for good or evil.
The Seminar agreed that genetic engineering may be used in the prevention, treatment or alleviation of diseases, whether in the form of genetic surgery in which genes are replaced by other genes or genes are implanted in the patient’s cells, or when genes are planted in another body to obtain larger amounts of the same gene to be used
in the treatment of certain diseases. Genetic engineering should not be used on germ cells, due to certain reservations from the Islamic legal point ofview.
The Seminar affirms the need for countries, in view of the high cost of such process, to provide such facilities to their nationals who need it, especially those with limited income.
The Seminar also recommends that genetic engineering not be used for any sinister or offensive purposes, or crossing the genes boundaries between various species in order to produce hybrids or merely for sport or scientific curiosity.
The Seminar also recommends that genetic engineering must not be adopted as a means for changing the human genetic constitution, in what is called the improvement of the human breed, or in genetically tampering with the human personality or interfere in man’s competence or individual responsibility.
The Seminar warned that scientific progress should not be made open to monopoly or profiteering and so deprive the poor from benefiting from these achievements. The Seminar supports the United Nations Organisation’s policy in this regard of establishing research centres for genetic engineering in developing countries and providing the necessary personnel training and facilities for such centres to function.
The Seminar finds no Islamic legal objection to the use of genetic engineering in the fields of agriculture and livestock, without ignoring, however, those voices that have recently warned of possible harmful long-term effects on man, animals, crop or the environment. The Seminar agreed that companies and factories producing animal or plant foods should make it clear to the public what is being offered for sale of those items that are genetically manufactured. The Seminar also recommends that countries should be fully vigilant in monitoring such products and complying with the relevant recommen-dations and decisions of the American Food and medicine Association, the World Health Organisation, and the International Food Agency.
[This message has been edited by mAd_ScIeNtIsT (edited March 10, 2002).]