Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(189): "Types of Stem Cells and the Sharia Rulings Pertaining to them"

Date Added : 18-11-2015

Resolution No.(189)(9/2013) by the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies:

"Types of Stem Cells and the Sharia Rulings Pertaining to them"

Date: 27/Tholqidah/1434 AH, corresponding to 3/10/2013.

 

All perfect praise is due to Allah, peace and blessings be upon Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.

Elaborating on its earlier resolution No.(6/2013) which included special amendments to the stem cells system, the Board decided what follows:

In terms of medicine, stem cells are unspecialized (undifferentiated) cells that are characteristically of the same family type (lineage). They retain the ability to divide throughout life and give rise to cells that can become highly specialized and take the place of cells that die or are lost. Stem cells contribute to the body`s ability to renew and repair its tissues. Based on their source, stem cells are divided into the following types; each has its own ruling from the perspective of Sharia:

Type One: Human Embryonic Stem Cells

These are taken from fertilized eggs that are left over from in vitro fertilization (IVF), starting from the date of fertilization and ending after five days from the start of the sequential segmentations.

For this type to be considered permissible, fertilization should take place between two spouses who wish to beget children, and whose marriage contract is valid. This is provided that they abide by the specified number of fertilization attempts along with observing the rules of Sharia concerning the test-tube babies.

Type Two: Adult Stem Cells:

These are taken from the umbilical cord after delivery, milk teeth, different tissues of a human being after being born, aborted fetuses, tissues of fetuses implanted in the uterus or the umbilical cord or the placenta and its membrane, and the amniotic fluid,  whether inside the uterus or outside it.

Using this type of cells is permissible; however, proper legislations should be set up in order to ban deliberate abortion that aims at obtaining them. It is also important to avoid taking advantage of illegal abortion, because the use of these cells could lead to legalizing such abortion.

Type Three: Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells:

They are specialized adult cells that can be programmed into cells that behave like embryonic stem cells.

Type Four: Hybrid Stem Cells:

These cells result from combining human DNA with a non-human cell.

Islamic Sharia permits using the third and the fourth types because there is no Sharia evidence that forbids them. This is provided that they aren`t implanted in a woman`s womb and they aren`t used for increasing mankind.

In conclusion, it is conditioned that the above mentioned types don`t cause any harm to mankind and that the medical rules and regulations are observed. The Legislation and Opinion Bureau has worked out a draft-law to that end and it was ratified by the Iftaa` Board which made key amendments to it in order to make sure that the rules of Sharia are abided by. And Allah Knows Best. 

 

Chairman of the Iftaa` Board, The Grand Mufti of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, His Grace Sheikh Abdulkareem Al-Khasawneh.

Vice-Chairman of the Iftaa` Board, Prof. Ahmad Helayel

Prof. Abduln`nassir Abu Al Bass`al/ Member

His Eminence, Sheikh Sa`ied Hijjawi/ Member

Pro. Mohammad Al-Qhodat/ Member

     Dr. Wasif Al-Bakhri

Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalayleh/ Member

Dr. Mohammad Khair Al-Essa/ Member

Dr.Mohammad Al-Zou`bi/ Member

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Summarized Fatawaa

In life insurance with the Potash Company, enrollment is mandatory, and employees have the right to receive a cash amount from the insurance for surgeries and illnesses while employed by the company. Is the amount given by the insurance in this case permissible (Halal) or prohibited (Haram)?
 

Since the insurance is compulsory, then what the insurance company pays in return for medical treatment is similar to donation, and I pray to Allah The Almighty that this is lawful even if this service is deducted from your salary in return of it, so in this manner you take back some of the amount you paid in form of above treatment. And Allah Knows Best.

I have been married for five years. My husband has two sons from his first marriage. Nevertheless, I took care of his children, and gave birth to a baby boy who is now three years old. Unfortunately, we keep fighting all the time; sometimes over his two sons and sometimes over his family. If I serve his family members and praise them, he treats me kindly. If I don`t, he turns my life into living hell. What should I do?

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of The Worlds, and may His Peace and Blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all of his family and companions.

Spouses should live with each other on a footing of kindness and equity. In your case, constructive dialogue is the best course of action. We advise you to be patient, commit your affair to Allah and ask Him to help you. We also recommend that you seek the help of the people of goodness and make them fix things between you and your husband. If all attempts for reconciliation fail then go to court, but we remind you that a problem, which could be solved with a beautiful word, is no problem at all, so praise family and children and try your best to win their hearts. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.

It is stated in the Noble Quran that pork is forbidden for Muslims. Why is that so?

All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
To Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and He makes certain things allowed for us, while others are declared prohibited. Consequently, He the Almighty wouldn`t make something prohibited unless it is harmful;  whether we are made acquainted with the reason or not. Moreover, medical doctors have stated that there are many harms for pork. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.   

Is it permissible to combine Zuhr and Asr prayers for being occupied with a wedding ceremony?

No, it isn`t permissible to combine Zuhr and Asr, or Maghrib and Isha because of being busy with a wedding since the exemption for combining prayers is based on lawful excuses, and this isn`t one of them. And Allah Knows Best.