Islamic position on stem cell research
According to Islamic jurisprudence, stem cell research is lawful. Usually, taking the life of a foetus is unlawful in Islam. In this case, however, the embryos are developed purely for medical purposes with a view to curing a disease or replacing organs. The life of the embryo is usually terminated within five days. There is no intention or realistic chance of the embryo surviving to develop into a human being, as defined in Islam. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) stated: ‘The constituents of one of you are collected for 40 days in his mother’s womb. It becomes (like) something that clings in the same period, then it becomes (like) a chewed lump of flesh in the same period ...Then the soul is breathed into him.’
After the soul is united with the foetus, it is considered to be a human. In the case of therapeutic cloning, neither of the two conditions of the human developing in the womb nor living for 40 days are satisfied.
