Cloning in The Light of Shariah

The issue of cloning has entailed a global debate since the birth of Dolly, the well know cloned sheep. The discovery of the process of cloning has been one of the most striking and curious scientific achievements of the past century. The Muslim scholars and religious doyens have joined ethical voice against the apprehended misuse of this biological invention. The book published by A. S. Noordin titled cloning in the light of Shari’ah is one of the products of such deliberations. It includes learned papers of great Islamic scholars on ‘cloning: A Thought Provoking Scientific Research’, ‘Creating and Cloning’, ‘Human Photocopying: Introduction & Analysis’ and ‘cloning: Meanings and Definitions’ and other Sundry views of leading Ulama; apart from Introduction of the theme, resolutions of Fiqh seminar held in Morocco and decisions of the Islamic fiqh Academy Jeddah and India. Some updating information has also been appended at the end. The said paper are elucidating and thought provoking and logically argued in the of Shari’ah with convincing quotations from the basic sources of Islam.

The great Islamic jurist Qazi Mujahidul Islam Qasmi writes in his preface while stating purpose of the publication, “We are contributing to this debate(on Cloning with a view to provide a guidance towards the right direction to the new researches that shall be unfolding in the coming days”. Obviously, this book not only provides basic guidance in the emerging field of cloning but it also pave way for further research work in this regard.

Indeed, the publication lays firm foundation for the presentation and development of Islamic perspective on the issue of cloning and hence worth reading by all those who feel concern for appropriate and just outlook of the Muslim community on the future course of cloning.