This is what my friends had gathered and presented during our Islamic input lecture for Internal Medicine posting.

Allah says regarding the stages the fetus goes through:

((And indeed We created man (Adam) out of an extract of clay (water and earth). Thereafter We made him (the offspring of Adam) as a Nutfah (mixed drops of the male and female sexual discharge) (and lodged it) in a safe lodging (womb of the woman). Then We made the Nutfah into a clot (a piece of thick coagulated blood), then We made the clot into a little lump of flesh, then We made out of that lump of flesh bones, then We clothed the bones with flesh, and then We brought it forth as another creation. So blessed be Allah, the Best of creators. After that, surely, you will die. Then [again], surely, you will be resurrected on the Day of Resurrection.)) (23:12-14)

1. Culture of human cell lines in the laboratory and experimentation on them for the purpose of organ transplantation to save human life is permissible and obligatory (fard kifayah) to pursue this research.

2. Scientists may use human cells derived from aborted fetuses, deemed not to be viable, or from tissues removed in the process of surgeries to cure diseases, as sources for cells to be used for research aiming at organ transplantation.

3. It is not permissible to induce fertilization of human sperm and ova, in any way or form, with the purpose of using the fertilized ova for research. However, additional embryos produced by IVF between husband and wife can be discarded or given for genetic research, provided not reached the stage of ‘alaqah’ (blastocyst).

4. Freezing and maintenance of sperms, ova and embryos should be supervised by a reliable Central authority managed by Muslim workers reliable in their faith and knowledge to secure the lineage

5. It is permissible to use cloning technology and genetic engineering to produce and introduce human genetic material into a human being aiming at curing illnesses provided that Syari’ah guidelines are not violated.

6. The same technology could be used to introduce healthy genetic material into ova, fertilized ova or fetuses, aiming at prevention or curing diseases. Provided that the rule of ‘no harm’ is applied and that the procedure is not used to interfere with the general (non pathological) human characteristics.

Sources

•         Islamic Medical Resources – Islamic Medical Association of North America (IMANA)

•         Guideliness on Stem Cell Research, Malaysia

•         Keputusan Muzakarah Jawatankuasa Fatwa Majlis Kebangsaan Bagi Hal Ehwal Agama Islam Malaysia Berkaitan Pengklonan Dan ART’ dated 22 February 2005 on page 11 )

•         Islamic Medical Ethics Amidst Developing Biotechnologies  (Dr. Musa Mohd. Nordin FRCP, FAMM Consultant Paediatrician & Neonatologist, MALAYSIA ,President, Federation of Islamic Medical Associations)

•         Stem Cell Research in Shari’ah Perspective – Islam online.net