Friday, November 28, 2008

QURAN AND GENETIC ENGINEERING

{ This article was published in Quam (English Supplimentry of leading Urdu Daily INQALAB) 0n 20th May 2008} 

IN THE NAME OF ALLAH MOST GRACIOUS MOST MERCY FULL !

 

QURAN AND GENETIC ENGINEERING

 

            Humanity has received divine guidance through two channels: the word of Allah and the prophets who were chosen by him to communicate his will to humanity. These channels have always functioned together, and if one is ignored or neglected the will of Allah can not be known with any degree of accuracy.

 

            Fourteen hundred years ago, God sent down the Quran to mankind as a book of guidance. He called upon people to be guided to the truth by adhering to this book. From the day of its revelation to the Day of Judgment, this last divine book will remain the sole guide for humanity. The matchless style of the Quran and the superior wisdom in it are definite evidence that it is the word of God. In addition the Quran has many miraculous attributes is the fact that number of scientific truths that we have only been able to uncover by the technology of the 20th century were stated in the Quran 1,400 years ago.

 

            Genetic Engineering is very vast field of interest. All over the world many Scientist work in this field and their work are challenged them , if they know or come across the similar Quranic verse. For example Dr Maurice Bucaille, he is an eminent medical scientist and a member of the French Academy of Medicine. As a surgeon, Maurice Bucaille has often been in a situation where he was able to examine not only people's bodies but their souls as well. This is how he was struck by the existence of Muslim piety and by the aspects of Islam which remain unknown to the vast majority of non-Muslims. In his search for explanations, which are other wise difficult to obtain, he learn Arabic and studied the Quran. In it, he was surprised to find statements on natural phenomena whose meaning can only be understood through modern scientific knowledge.

 

            Now coming to the topic, Now a days modern science or scientists challenge that if they want they can easily produce three or four arms in human body instead of two. Even they challenged if they want they can produce eye or ear in different places other than its natural place. But they agreed and saying that the present structure of human body is the best and perfect if we change any thing in it the whole body structure get disturbed. They claiming now that the given body structure which Allah-subhanutallah given us is the best.

But Allah told us this fact in the holy Quran 14 hundred years ago.

 

            “We have indeed created man in the best moulds.”         (Chapter no 95 verse no 4)

 

In another verse of the holy Quran Allah Subhanutallah says;

 

            “O Man ! Who deceives you about your Lord the Nobel, Who created you and fashioned you in due proportion and gave you any form He willed.”  (Chapter no 82 verse no 6 to 8 )

 

This means that Allah give us a best body form which any body can able to think of !

 

 



                (DNA STRUCTURE)

 

 

            The creation of man in the mother's womb is a miracle on its own. The union of the sperm and the ovum forms a living cell. Then this cell multiplies. The multiplying cell start to differentiate by secret order. They are arranged and ordered to form bones, eyes, heart, vessels and the skin. At the end of this intricate process, a single cell turns into perfect human being. Referring to this creation, Allah call out to man in Chapter no 82 verses 6 to 8 (as mentioned above).

Recently, it was thought that a baby's sex was determined by the mother's cell. Or at least, it was believed that the sex was determined by the male and female cells together. But we are given different information in the Quran, where it is stated that masculinity or femininity is created out of a drop of sperm which has been ejected.

 

In Holy Quran, chapter no 53 (AN-NAJAM) verse no 45 and 46 , clearly mentioned that

            “He has created both sexes, male and female from a drop of semen which has been ejected.”

           

The developing disciplines of genetics and molecular biology have scientifically validated the accuracy of this information given by the Quran. it is now understood that sex is determined by the sperm cells from the male, and that the female has no role in this process.

 

Science is now a day is so advanced but when engineers or scientists made any machine they given specifications with it. Which tells users what is the maximum temperature limit for it, at this much temperature you not able to run the machine because of temperature machine may gets damage etc. etc.. They specifically design the machine to operate in certain conditions either in low temperature or at certain temperatures, they took several steps in it but even after it when product is delivered it has some drawbacks.

 

            “Can these people is not able to see the creation of camel.” In holy Quran Allah says,

“Have they not looked at the camel – how it was created?” (chapter no 88; verse no 17)

 

 


            When we look at the camel, we see that this animal is specifically created for desert conditions (where the temperature is so high). It has a metabolism that enables it to live without water for weeks, it has special tissues to protect its body from the burning sands and it has even special eyebrow system that will curtain its eyes against sand storms. It is the best example against  any machine which is created by mankind.

 

Testosterone:

 

            Testosterone is a male steroid hormone produced in the testicles and responsible for the development of secondary sex characteristics. It can also be made synthetically and used to treat androgen deficiency.

Formula : C19 H28 O2

            The world's most respected scientists who work in this field are claimed that they people easily able to change the sex of  child during the pregnancy of the woman or after the birth of the child or at any stage of  life, if some body wants to change they can change. But question is that how they can change the sex of the child once he or she born or at the pregnancy time, the answer is the “Testosterone”. They says that, with the help of testosterone in the mother womb they change the proportion and the desired result what they want can be obtain. Not only these, they also claim before the baby is born they decide the future, means what he or she become in future, they preplanned about the future of child.

 

But they don't know what is the truth of life. In holy Quran Allah clearly mentioned that;

“Many We did create from a quintessence (of clay), They We placed his as (a drop of) sperm in a place of rest, firmly fixed, Then We made the sperm into a clot of congealed blood; then of that clot We made a (foetus) lump; then We made out of that lump bones and clothed the bones with flesh; then We developed out of it another creature. So blessed be Allah, the Best to create! .After that, at length ye will die. (Chapter no 23 (AL-MUMINUN) ; verse number 12-15)

To attribute the presence of scientific facts in the Quran to coincidence would be against common sense and a true scientific approach. Indeed the scientific accuracy of the Quranic verse confirms the Qurans open declaration.

 

“Soon will we show them our signs in the (furthest) regions (of the earth), and in their own souls, until it becomes manifest to them that this is the Truth it is not enough that Thy Lord witness all things?” [Chapter 41 verse 53]

 

The Quran invites all humans to reflect on the Creation of this universe in the verse;

 

“Behold! In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of Night and Day there are indeed Signs for men of understanding.” [Al-Quran 3: 190]

 

Genetic Engineering has particularly attracted lengthy discussions amongst Islamic scholars because of a phrase in the Quran about “changing God's Creation”. According to the Quran after Satan tempted Adam and Eve to sin by eating from the forbidden tree, he was dismayed to see them repenting and being forgiven and honored by their mission to planet Earth as God's vicegerent.

Satan asked the Lord to grant him another chance to prove that humans are not the trustworthy after all. If allowed to test them on earth, Satan disclosed some of his plots to confound them saying:

“Verily if Thy servants I shall most certainly take my due share, and shall lead them astray and fill them with vain desires. And I shall command them so that they cut off the ears of cattle (in idolatrous sacrifice), and I shall command them and they will CAHNGE GOD'S CREATION.” [QURAN 4:119]

 

The regard for this verse among Islamic scholars and medical practitioners also affects their decisions on such issues as sexual conversion operations.

 

The possibility of changing the nature of God's creation was not an idea that people of earlier times could have entertained. Clearly the verse is speaking of possibilities that had not yet dawned on the horizon of earlier eras. To inflict superficial injuries or to make small changes, through incisions for example, is quite a simple process and lies within the reach of man of all ages. However, the possibility of man bringing about substantial changes in God's creation has always been beyond the reach of human imagination, prior to the most recent times. The addition of genetic engineering as a new branch of scientific study is only a decade or two old. Yet this branch of science is moving rapidly to the stage against which a clear warning had been delivered by the Quran fourteen hundred years ago. Man has already started interfering with the plan of creation and to some measure has succeeded in altering the forms of life at the level of bacteria, insects etc. A few further and it may spell disaster. Some scientists have already started sounding the alarm. But unfortunately, to reverse the wheel of experimentation in this field already seems to be beyond their power.

 

IT is wrong however to infer that this verse condemns all possible usage of genetic engineering. Any branch of science, which is pressed into the service of His creation and employed to protect, rather than change it, is certainly not discouraged. If for instance genetic engineering is employed to correct faults in genetic codes caused by accidents, this can in no way be dubbed as interference with the Divine scheme of things. Again, if damage to genetic codes by disease or imprudent medication is attempted to be corrected through genetic engineering, this is certainly not what is condemned in the above verse.

 

We pray that God may save mankind from this catastrophe of global dimensions by enabling people to reform. By mending his ways and true repentance, it is not at all unlikely for man to win pardon from Allah and escape the consequences of his sin. But what is unlikely, alas, is for man to repent and mend his ways. It is of no significance whether one is religious or irreligious, whether once believes in God or denies His existence. As far as human moral conduct is concerned it seems to be universal in its sinfulness. Those who claim to be religious are unfortunately no less immoral than the irreligious. The so called believers in God are no longer clearly distinguishable from those who do not believe. It will be no exaggeration, therefore, to declare the entire age to be at loss. This is how the holy Quran pronounces its judgment on the people of the latter days:

 

 

 

 

            WAL ASRI INNAL INSAANA LAFI KHUSRIN. ILLAL LAZINA AAMANU WA        AAMILUS SAALIHAATI WATWA SAU BIL HAQQI WATWA SAU BIS SABR.     [Chapter number 103; verses 1 – 4]

 

By (the Token of) Time (through the ages), Verily Man is in loss, except such as have faith, and do righteous deeds, and (join together) in the mutual teaching of Truth, and of Patience and Constancy. [Chapter number 103]

 

 

            The Quran contains a complete code of life for the individual and society. Allahmdulillah
(Praise be to Allah), the Quranics way of life is far superior to the 'isam' that modern man has invented out of sheer ignorance. Who can give better guidance than the creator himself?

 

I pray that this humble effort is accepted by Allah, to whom I pray for mercy and guidance (Aameen).

 

 

 

Authors Details:

 

     SAEED AHMAD ANSARI

B.Sc. (Physics), B.Sc.Tech. (Computer Technology)

 This article was published in Quam (English Supplimentry of leading Urdu Daily INQALAB) 0n 20th May 2008

Email: saeedbiniqbal@gmail.com

 

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