Human cloning, stem cell research. An Islamic perspective

The rapidly changing technologies that involvehuman subjects raise complex ethical, legal, social,and religious issues. Recent advances in the field ofcloning and stem cell research have introduced newhopes for the treatment of serious diseases. But thispromise has raised many complex questions. Thisfield causes debate and challenge, not only amongscient ists but also among ethicists, religious scholars,governments, and politicians. There is no consensuson the morality ofhurnan cloning, even within specificreligious traditions. In countries in which religion hasa strong influence on political decision making, themoral status of the human embryo is at the centerof the debate. Because of the inevitable consequencesof reproductive cloning, it is prohibited in Islam.However, stem cell research for therapeutic purposesis permissible with full consideration, and all possibleprecautions in the pre-ensoulment stages of early fetusdevelopment, if the source is legitimate.