Stem Cell Research in Shari`ah Perspective

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hamba2han

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For anyone who wishes to learn about the Muslim view on stem cell research, here is an interesting link.
 
I didn’t read the link but my understanding is that it is acceptable in Islam (and the U.S.)
 
Interesting link.

Two questions, and I am not sure that any of us can answer them.

First, why did the medical expert say that human stem cells were not as useful as embryonic when science says otherwise? Hundreds of cures/treatments have come from adult stem cells and NONE have come from emryonic, leading some to ask if the money is wasted on embryonic research.

Second, if an emryo is not considered human outside of the womb, is a human swimming in the ocean (not its natural habitat) no longer human
 
An embryo is not considered human if the soul has not yet been blown into it and also, if it is not placed in the womb it will not survive and it will not become a human being.

Most jurists in Islam would say that ensoulment of the embryo occurs on the 120th day of the pregnancy.
 
hamba2han said:
An embryo is not considered human if the soul has not yet been blown into it and also, if it is not placed in the womb it will not survive and it will not become a human being.

Most jurists in Islam would say that ensoulment of the embryo occurs on the 120th day of the pregnancy.
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Then is abortion allowed before the 120th day?
 
Terminating a pregnancy is an option allowed up to the point of 120 days and even then it is only permissible under specific circumstances such as the following:
  1. Rape and incest
  2. Proven abnormalities, e.g. Anencephacy (no brain), Downs Syndrome, Trisomy, HIV positive, congenital rubella health.
  3. If the foetal abnormalities are not proven but speculated, then, if there is a high risk that a woman may suffer from any of the above factors, then in the opinion of an honest, reliable and an experienced Muslim doctor, abortion may be permissible prior to the four months’ gestation. It must be stressed that these are exceptional circumstances in which an abortion is allowed. Once again, it must be emphasised that the permission granted rests on medical grounds. (Ibid)
  4. If there is a high risk of the mother’s permanent mental well being and if the doctor is certain (Zanne Ghaalib) that the depression, schizophrenia will be permanent and incurable.
  5. Abortion before 120 days is not permissible due to spacing of children, financial constraints, young age and unwed mothers.
After a period of 120 days (4 months), abortion is prohibited under any circumstances because it would be considered as murdering an innocent soul.
 
hamba2han said:
Abortion is emphatically discouraged under any circumstances but in the event that it has to be performed, then it must be done before 120 days.
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So, abortion is not inherently evil in Islam. I did not know that.

Now, if a human is only a human in its natural habitat and once it has a soul, is a man who is scuba diving no longer fully human? Or an man in space?
 
ralphinal said:
… Now, if a human is only a human in its natural habitat and once it has a soul, is a man who is scuba diving no longer fully human? Or an man in space?
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Scuba diving and space exploration does not require the removal of the soul and therefore how would these activities make someone stop being human?
 
ralphinal said:
So, abortion is not inherently evil in Islam. I did not know that.

Now, if a human is only a human in its natural habitat and once it has a soul, is a man who is scuba diving no longer fully human? Or an man in space?
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Yes. As soon as you swim in the ocean you are no longer fully human. I’m sure we can all agree on that.
 
hamba2han said:
Scuba diving and space exploration does not require the removal of the soul and therefore how would these activities make someone stop being human?
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The article said that an embryo cannot be considered human because it is not in its natural habitat. If that is the case, then there are times when people can cease to be human.
 
There is really nothing ‘un-natural’ about scuba-diving and the soul does indeed require nourishment and embellishment whether one is in a habitat which is either above or under water:

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I am a scuba diver, I know all about it.

The fact is that the medical expert said two things that bothered me. The first is that adult stem cells are not as useful when research says the opposite. The other is that an embryo outside of the womb cannot be considered human because it is outside of its habitat. If that is true, any human not on dry land is no longer human.
 
ralphinal said:
I am a scuba diver, I know all about it.

The fact is that the medical expert said two things that bothered me. The first is that adult stem cells are not as useful when research says the opposite. The other is that an embryo outside of the womb cannot be considered human because it is outside of its habitat. If that is true, any human not on dry land is no longer human.
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An embryo that is outside the womb does not have a soul yet and therefore it is not a human being.
 
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