Qur’anic Views on Human Cloning (I): Doctrinal and Theological Evidences

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Animal Biotechnology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran

2 Department of Jurisprudence and Law, Research Institute of Imam Khomeini and Islamic Revolution, Tehran, Iran

3 Department of Qur’an and Hadith Sciences, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Background: Human cloning is a recent occurrence that is not confined to bio-issues; rather, it has provoked numerous
questions worldwide and presented scientific and religious challenges. These series of articles aim to examine the
proposed approaches and analyze the aspects of human cloning in terms of tenets, morals, jurisprudence, and laws. In
this paper, we analyze the ideological and theological evidences, regardless of scientific, ethical and legal problems
that exist in the reproduction method.

Materials and Methods: We used a descriptive-analytical method to consider the challenges of human cloning according
to the “system of Divine creativity” and “the will of God”, as well as the “pairing system” and “diversity in
nature” with emphasis on the Holy Qur’an and Qur’anic commentaries.

Results: According to the Qur’an, although any type of physical changes and retouching of the human body are forbidden,
the alteration of God's creation may not prove the prohibition of cloning. Cloning is not contradictory to the
principle, precedent, and rule of coupling, and it may be one of the hidden precedents of creation. Therefore, not only
does a clone not contradict the precedent of the variety of men, but this variety is a sign for men and not a precedent
predominated over the order of nature.

Conclusion: It is proven that cloning does not give life; instead, it utilizes the life bestowed by God. This technique
does not contradict the precedents of existence. It is a way to discover some precedents of God and is under the order
of cause and effect of the world. Cloning is not considered as a challenge to human beliefs, nor is it a change in Divine
creation. Moreover, cloning does not contradict the theological teachings and concepts of the Holy Qur’an and Shiite
Muslims.

Keywords


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