Islam and Bioethics

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

With the advent of modern technology, powered by its unprecedented and far reaching capabilities, religion’s role in explaining natural phenomena has significantly been decreased. The new knowledge enabled by modern science and technology is increasingly being used to answer and settle many questions that used to belong to religion’s sole and exclusive domain. These questions include: the exact beginning and end of human life, redefinition of family structure and relationships, and even the ability to create human life. Thus, some of the main questions that religion- and religious people - are grappling with include: How is religion responding to this challenge? Would modern technology eventually replace religion or render it completely obsolete? What are the ethical implications of this challenge? Would secular morality be sufficient in the modern age? And, ultimately, does modernization necessitate secularization? Can the different components of modernity be distinguished? Would it be possible to separate the technical aspects of modernity from the other philosophical or cultural ones? This course explores these questions within the context of modern Islamic/Muslim discourses related to bioethics and their historical background. In particular, the course focuses on Islamic ethical thought and its connection with the Islamic legal tradition. It will also examine the interface between Islamic ethico-legal and cultural norms and the extent to which they are considered inviolable. The course is divided into four main sections: meaning and nature of Islamic ethics (what makes it Islamic?); meaning and nature of Islamic law (how is it different from modern law?); meaning and nature of Islamic bioethics (how does it relate to universal or global bioethics?); and illustrative examples of Islamic bioethical debates. The course complements other courses on religious studies as well as Islamic faith, law, ethics, tradition, cultures, and societies.