Biotechnology is the
branch of biology that deals with the use living organism for welfare of human.
Today, the most controversial and questionable field in science is
biotechnology. It was started mid 1970s, when first genetically modified living
was engineered by modification in genome of living organism. Genetic
engineering is the exploitation DNA molecule to produce
animals, plants and many other living organisms. There are many examples of GMO
like BT cotton, Dolly Sheep and Golden Rice. All living organism contain
genetic material which transfer from parent to their offspring. The genetic
material has genes which control all character of living thing. These
characters are eye color, skin color, height, hair color and almost every trait
in living organisms. In this field, you can transfer gene of one living thing
to other, for example, bacteria like Bacillus
Thuringiensis have resistant for insects, so
scientists discover the cryA1 gene, which was transfer in cotton crop and
cotton has become resistant to insects attack.
Temper with nature is hot issue in Biotechnology:
Temper with nature is hot issue in Biotechnology:
Tempering the creation of Allah, change in
nature, to generate new creation and then claiming the officially authorized
owner of such thing are main issue in biotechnology. This problem has religious
and etiquette concern. In this article, I shed light by using the undisputed
source like Islamic Authorized Regulations ( hukm) like “Al- Quran”
and “Al-hadith”. This
article is has concentrated only what does say Allah and His Prophet (P.B.U.H)
about GM food and products.
Allah and His Prophet (P.B.U.H) view concerning GM foods and products:
As it concern of
risk with genetically modified food, Quran has shown many rules about intake of
food. Allah has said “Eat of the things
which God hath provided for you, lawful and good: But fear God, in Whom ye
believe” (Al-Qur'an. Al-Ma'idah 5: 88). We can conclude from this ayat that
Allah has ordered us not just consume the “hala”
food but high-quality food as well. So we should be avoided from “haram” food and all drinks. We (Muslim)
should not eat non slaughtered meat and not consume liquor as well. As a
Muslims, we should be saved ourselves from acquiring any drink and food which
has chemicals things, additives and coloring agents which can be “haram” for our bodies. But it concern
with GMF, there is no evidence that these are not good for health as well as “haram”. Scientific history shows that GM
food is good for health and not harmful for human health. For instance,
research shows that GM tomatoes had not been harmful for rats, on the other
hand it was poisoned by potassium which is the basic nutrient. So it is
confirmed that scientifically, GM food are not harmful for human. But as
Muslim, we believe that “Allah is created and shaped every living thing its
best form and human is as “khalifatullah” or a viceroy (al-Qur`an 2:30).
So as a viceroy, we (Muslim) should be responsible for everything on this earth
and Hereafter.
Allah and His Prophet (P.B.U.H) view about modification or
gene altering:
Islam at first
stage, regarding with modification is a sin as Allah says in Quran “God did curse him, but he said: “I will take
of Your servants a piece marked off, I will deceive them, and I will create in
them fake needs, I will order them to slit the ears of cattle, and to deface
the (fair) nature created by God.” Whoever forsaking God, takes Satan for a
friend, hath a security suffered a loss that is manifest” (Al-Qur’an.
An-Nisa’ 4:119). This verse of Quran warns that any unnecessary modification in
Creation of Allah might be made individual subject curse by Allah and His
Prophet (P.B.U.H). If this type of change and modification has brought good
change and fall in essential category (daruriyyat) then it is allowed in
Islam. For example, such experiments are permissible in “Shari`ah” which
reduce the effects of insects and pesticides on environment. Furthermore, Islam
encourages us to modify and alter the gene which has used for centuries, in
order to improve livestock and crop. According Hadith, Prophet (P.B.U.H) had been approved the act of
crossbreeding in date plants by Arab and said” You are more familiar in your worldly affairs" (Hadith.
Muslim. Kitab Al-Fada'il: Bab 39: #6082).
It
is obvious that Islam and Shari`ah do not put strict restriction in
worldly affairs offered they are used, managed and utilized for the benefit of
the common people and vice versa
