Islamic Perspectives on the Beginning of Human Life: Jurisprudential, Theological and Social Implications

On 6th-7th July 2023, AMI hosted a two-day workshop dealing with “Islamic Perspectives on the Beginning of Human Life: Jurisprudential, Theological and Social Implications” in its ongoing series on Contemporary Fiqhī Issues.

The multidisciplinary workshop included experts in traditional Islamic sciences of various dispositions, academics, and medical practitioners from the UK, USA, Europe and the Middle East.

The opening day of the workshop focused on questions regarding the juristic opinions on the moral status of the embryo, which has important implications on pressing medical practices such as abortion and using embryos for research.

The final panel of the day addressed the use of artificial reproductive techniques to conceive a child, including the permissibility of IVF and using a sperm donor for infertile couples or single women without a partner.

In addition to the jurisprudential issues regarding IVF, Iran was used as a case study to explore the social and ethical aspects of the practice in a country where the leading cleric has permitted IVF.

On the following day of the workshop, the focus shifted from jurisprudence to ethical and theological discussions. The morning panels considered issues such as choosing the sex of a child and the ethical implications of conceiving a child knowing that they will suffer from severe and painful genetic defects. This raised questions about whether premarital genetic testing should be mandatory, as is the case in many Gulf countries, and the social effects of irradicating certain forms of disabilities.

The closing two panels delved into deeper questions regarding the nature human soul and the origins of humans. For example, can AI or a human clone have a human soul? Are we living in a simulated reality? What does Islam say about human evolution?

The participants who presented their findings at the workshop were: