Access to assisted human reproductive technologies in the light of Islamic ethics

• Main Author: Iqbal, M.
• Published: University College London (University of London) 2013
• Subjects: 610
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.587807

The purpose of this thesis is to evaluate the hypothesis that infertile Muslim couples living in secular societies or otherwise are unduly restricted in their approach in making use of the facilities now available through modern human reproductive technologies. This is mainly because of the unbending and categorical fixation of the early interpretations of Islamic allegorical verses of the Qur’an by Islamic jurists who remain steadfast in refusing to contemplate the present advanced nature of the changing world. To date, this unilaterally uncompromising attitude of Islamic jurists has not allowed them to issue a clear mandate to infertile Muslim couples, nor has Shari’ah law been sufficiently reviewed by them to consider and incorporate modern science, enabling infertile Muslim couples to have access to the innovative facilities afforded by modern medical human reproductive technologies. The majority of Islamic states are ruled by kings, sheikhs, and dictators on the basis of outdated feudal systems; the fields of religious teachings are left in the hands of religious scholars who are obviously interpreting Qur’anic allegorical verses or Hadiths under the influence of feudal rulers. This thesis also looks into the unethical and compelling defences of patriarchal dominance over the fundamental rights of Muslim females, restraining them from acting freely, and the unfair enforcement of outdated penal systems. The undue insistence of religious encroachment over the firmly established secular systems leaves little room for sufficient attention to be paid to how to become contributors in these changing times and to become part of the globally developing human reproduction systems. Therefore, it has become necessary to deliberate and to devise a model for an appropriate structure, religious or otherwise, to guide infertile Muslim couples in sharing the benefits of modern human reproductive technologies, whilst also remaining true to the core principles of Islam.