Conditions for using genetic engineering
20-4-2008 | IslamWeb
Question:
Genetic modification is already being used to treat genetic diseases. Furthermore, it is possible to alter genes to enhance the capabilities of animals and people, or to give them new ones. For examples, mice have been created with enhanced memory, and enhanced learning capabilities. My question is, what is the viewpoint of Islam on altering the genes not just to remove disease, but to improve humans? Is it Islamically ethical and/or moral to create a person who can see more than three primary colors? What about a person who can think much faster than normal people? In the next few decades, this technology will become common place, and it will even be possible to create a race of "super"-humans. What does Islam say about improving upon existing humans? Is it OK to, for example, give ourselves extra muscle, bigger and stronger bones? Genetic modification can modify our brains too, and people born with modified genes may able to think in completely different ways than normal humans, and they may have different instincts and natural desires than us. How would Islam apply to these new humans? Would new moral and ethical guidelines need to be constructed for these people to follow, so that they follow a set of morals and ethics that is more suited to their nature (fitrah), while unmodified humans follow morals and ethics of Islam as it is today, as that is suited for nature (fitrah) of humans today?
Answer:
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
Despite the breakthrough and development in the field of genetics, and the technical revolution and the benefits for humanity which this science achieved, it has dangers in its application on plants and animals, let alone on humans. It is for this reason that many countries set up rules which regulate the use of this science.
A general and stable resolution about genetic engineering has been passed by the Islamic Fiqh Committee which is part of the Islamic World League. The most important articles of this resolution are the following:
1- It is permissible to benefit from genetic engineering in preventing or curing a disease or reducing its harm provided no greater harm is caused.
2- It is not permissible to use any tool of genetic engineering and its means for evil or aggressive objectives or in anything that is religiously forbidden.
3- It is not permissible to use any tool of genetic engineering and its means in abusing the personality of a person or affect his individual responsibility or to interfere in the hereditary system (genes) under the pretext of improving the human progeny.
4- It is not permissible to carry out any research or do any treatment or diagnosis in regard to the genes of any person except for a dire necessity, provided a precise and preliminary evaluation on the dangers and expected benefits which are related to such activities is carried out. Additionally, this should be done after getting a religiously accepted approval while keeping the results confidential and observing the noble religious principles which state that a person should be respected and dignified.
5- It is permissible to use genetic engineering means and tools in the field of agriculture and animal cultivation on the condition of taking all the precautions in order to prevent any harm on the person, animal or environment, even if that is on the long run.
6- The Committee calls upon the companies and factories which produce food and medical products and other products which are beneficial to genetic engineering, to clarify what these products are composed of so as to avoid what is harmful or religiously forbidden.
7- The Committee advises doctors and factory and laboratory owners to fear Allaah and bear in mind that Allaah is always watchful and knowledgeable of what they do, and calls upon them to avoid harming the individual, the society and the environment.
Finally, it should be noted that some questions which you raised did not take place at all, and our righteous predecessors 
disliked questions about things that did not take place. When they were asked such questions, they would answer; “Leave it until it happens.”
Allaah Knows best.