Modern biotechnology from the views of Islamic ethics

Abstract

Contribution of modern biotechnology to the betterment of the agricultural sector and human health is undeniable. However, many consumers, environmental groups and some scientists have voiced strong concerns over the immediate long term effects of modern biotechnology products on human health and environment. According to some researchers, the central problem underlying biotechnology is not just its short term benefits and long term drawbacks, but the overall attempt to "control" living nature on an erroneous mechanistic view. We as human have conscience and our religious belief Many religions do not allow unrestricted interference with life such as genetic engineering. The pace of discovery in genetic based biotechnology is ve,y rapid and there is anxiety that a kind of technological compulsion (if we can do it, let's do it) will drive development an ahead of proper ethical consideration of their propriety. In Islam, ethic is known as akhlaq based on Al Quran and hadith. The ethic of modern biotechnology is classified according to three part of akhlaq that ethic issues related to God (Allah), ethic among human beings and ethics related to living things. Past reviews have showed that most of the ethical issues In modern biotechnology have already been stated in Al Quran and hadith. In this paper, related verses from Al Quran and quotations from hadith related to ethical aspects of ern biotechnology will be discussed.