Fatwa ID: 08286

Written by Maulana Mohammed Aabu Saeed Miah

Question:

Are the use of stem cells from embryos for research permitted in Islam.

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

Allah Ta’ala says in the Holy Qur’ān:

وَلَقَدْ كَرَّمْنَا بَنِي آدَمَ وَحَمَلْنَاهُمْ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ وَرَزَقْنَاهُمْ مِنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَفَضَّلْنَاهُمْ عَلَى كَثِيرٍ مِمَّنْ خَلَقْنَا تَفْضِيلًا

“And We bestowed dignity on the children of ‘Adam and provided them with rides on the land and in the sea and provided them with a variety of good things and made them much superior to many of those We created.” (Al-Quran, Surah al-Isrā (17):70)

Embryonic stem cell (ESC) research involves studying and using stem cells derived from early-stage embryos (usually around 5–7 days old) to understand disease mechanisms, develop treatments, and potentially regenerate damaged tissues. These stem cells are pluripotent, meaning they can differentiate into any type of cell in the human body.

According to the sharia this process is unlawful. The reason for this is because according to Islam the human body, irrespective of its religion, its nature is considered noble. Nothing which contradicts with its nobility will be permissible. As extracting, donating parts or fluids from a human contradicts with its God-given nobility, these acts are unlawful. Please note the issue does not lie in the research itself rather the process of extraction and donation.

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Maulana Mohammed Aabu Saeed Miah

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

م: (وحرمة الانتفاع بأجزاء الآدمي لكرامته) ش: يتعلق بقوله: أو الآدمي، والمعنى بخلاف جلد الخنزير فإنه لا يطهر بالدباغ لنجاسة عينه، ولجد الآدمي لكرامته؛ لأن الله تعالى كرمه، وفي استعمال جلده ابتذال له، هكذا قرره الشيخ الأكمل. وأنا أقول: هذا جواب عن سؤال مقدر تقديره أن يقال: لما خرج جلد الآدمي عن حكم الدباغ بقوله: إلا جلد الآدمي كان ينبغي أن يجوز الانتفاع ببقية أجزائه مثل شعره وعظمه وعصبه وغير ذلك، فأجاب عن ذلك بقوله:

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ص418 – كتاب البناية شرح الهداية – الانتفاع بأجزاء الآدمي – المكتبة الشاملة