The phenomenal strides made by mankind in the various field of science particularly in medicine, have thrown up many issues which have become the subject of intense controversy and debate in the West. For example, cloning and stem cell research, the controversy over which has turned into a political issue in the US that has figured in the presidential election. Medical circles, clergy, social scientists, intellectuals and now legislators too are engaged in the hot debate.
Muslim societies too are coming face to face with many of these issues and they are find their answers in the light of Islamic teachings. Issues like transplantation of human organs, their donation or sale, cadaver donation, growing of stem cells, artificial insemination, cloning of animals etc., are now being debated by the clergy, medical scientists and the law makers.
Kidney transplantation is now commonly practiced in Pakistan but its growing application, has give rise to many questionable practices with regard to the donation or sale of the organ. A law to regulate the cadaver donation and transplantation is on the arrival in the country.
Recently an interesting debate took place at a seminar organized by the Society of Transplant Physicians and Surgeons of Pakistan at Islamabad on ‘Transplantation of organs from the perspective of Islam’. Scholars of different schools of thought as well as physicians and surgeons participated in the discussion. While most scholars agreed that since transplantation is done to save human life, it did not violate Islamic principles. They argued that if blood donation is acceptable then why not transplantation of organs. However, trade of the organs can not be allowed. But some of the participant questioned that if the patient, the surgeon and the hospital can benefit from the sacrifice (of the donor) then why not the donor too.
Other issues like artificial insemination, cloning, surrogate motherhood, growing of stem cells and human organs are also engaging the attention of the scientific and religious circles. Then there is the old issue of birth control and the use of contraceptives for population planning which is still lingering because conservative sections oppose any measures to check population growth what to speak of the use of contraceptives or surgery to stop pregnancy. Nevertheless, now quite a few Muslim countries like Egypt, Iran and Bangladesh have population planning programmes and have taken effective measures against population explosion. Pakistan too has been following population planning to encourage smaller families on a voluntary basis.
In not too distant future all Muslims countries will be confronted with similar questions demanding immediate decisions.
It is high time that the Muslim countries take up these issues on a collective basis and seek a general consensus of the Ummah on such matters. International bodies like the OIC and the Arab League can sponsor studies and research on such matter to help reach a consensus. It would have two advantages: one all the available knowledge and expertise of the Muslim world would be mobilised to identify the issues and find their answers; and two, recommendations by these bodies with the collective wisdom behind them, will find easier acceptance. Final decision will of course rest with each individual country.

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