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Fatwa CenterStem cell research in Islam
Question
What is the Islamic view on Stem Cell research?
Answer
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.
Stem cell research is done by using an aborted human fetus. Dr. Omar Al-Ashqar did some research about this matter in his book: "Fiqh studies about some modern medical issues," and he concluded the following: " it is forbidden to abort a fetus just for the purpose of this operation (stem cell) as it is a transgression on the fetus regardless of whether the fetus is still in its early stages or otherwise, and even before the soul was insufflated in it. Aborting for this purpose is a means of destroying progenity. As for the fetus that was aborted for health reasons or aborted beyond the will of the person, it is concluded that there is no objection to use it in scientific experimentation or benefit from it by taking some of its organs or tissues for the sick patients who need them".
He said in the last chapter of this research: "profiting from the fetus is similar to profiting from the person other than the fetus. Their ruling is the same. In both cases, the permission of the Wali (guardian) is a pre-condition."
No doubt that Dr. Al-Ashqar chose to allow this in the second situation because the advantage of benefiting from fetuses here is greater than the disadvantage to human beings needing treatment.
Allah knows best.
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