Islam: Bioethics ✅ Flashcards
1
Q
Quote - Necessity
A
“Necessity makes permissible what is forbidden” (21:173)
“Actions will be judged according to intentions” (Sahih al-Bukari)
2
Q
Definition: The public interest
A
Maslaha
3
Q
What four sources determine Shari’a law?
A
- Qur’an
- Sunna of the Prophet
- Qiyas
- Ijma
4
Q
Definition: Alim
A
Comparative analogy
5
Q
Definition: Imam
A
Religious leader in Muslim culture (pastor equivalant)
6
Q
Definition: The four schools of Islamic Jurisprudence in Sunni Islam
A
Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi’i, Hanbali
7
Q
Definition: Maslah
A
Public Interest
8
Q
Definition: Ulama
A
Islamic layers: the guardians, transmitters and interpreters of religious knowledge in Islam, including Islamic doctrine and law.
9
Q
Definition: A non-binding decision on Shari’a which is usually authoritative without being law.
A
Fatwa
10
Q
Definition: Public Interest
A
Maslah
11
Q
Definition: Arabic word meaning “borders, boundaries, limits”. In the religion of Islam it refers to punishments that under Islamic law (shariah) are mandated and fixed by God.
A
Hudud
12
Q
Definition: Sunna
A
Thousands of hadith reports collated into a single body of writing.
13
Q
Quote - Embryonic stem cell research
A
“For every ailment, there is a cure” (Sunna, Hadith)
14
Q
Definition: Actions performed with the intention of pleasing God.
A
Ibadah
15
Q
Definition: Islamic layers: the guardians, transmitters and interpreters of religious knowledge in Islam, including Islamic doctrine and law.
A
Ulama
16
Q
Quote - The sanctity of human life
A
“Whoever kills a soul… it is as though he killed all men; and whoever saves a life, it would be as if he saved all mankind” (Surah 5:32)
17
Q
What is a Hadith that pertains to euthanasia?
A
“whoever commits suicide with something, will be punished” (Bukhari Hadith)
18
Q
Definition: Fatwa
A
A non-binding decision on Shari’a which is usually authoritative without being law.
19
Q
Definition: Ibadah
A
Actions performed with the intention of pleasing God.
20
Q
Definition: Senior Islamic Scholar: most qualified jurisprudents of each generation
A
Ayatollah
21
Q
Definition: The science of law. The Islamic form of governance,
A
Jurisprudence
22
Q
Definition: The school of Islamic Jurisprudence in Shi’i Islam
A
Jafari
23
Q
Definition: Islamic theologian and lawyer
A
Mullah
24
Q
Definition: Zulm
A
A term that is used to describe doing wrong against Allah, someone else or yourself.
25
Definition: Decision made by human understanding of the law
Fiqh
26
What are the five pillars of Islam?
Shahadah - Allah is God and Muhammad is his prophet
Salat - Five daily prayers
Zakat - Charity to the poor (2.5% of annual income)
Sawm - Fasting during the month of Ramadan
Hajj - Annual pilgrimage to Mecca that every Muslim must complete once in their lives.
27
Definition: Ayat al-ahkam
Legal verses in the Qur’an
28
Definition: Fitrah
Natural instinct
29
Definition: Divinely guided leader who is to come in the future to establish God’s rule on earth and a socially just society, restore the community to its rightful place and usher in a perfect Islamic society.
Mahdi
30
Explanation of Muslim stance on genetic engineering
One of Islam’s underlying ethics is the sanctity of human life. This means that humans can be saved by nearly any means necessary
31
Why are Muslims opposed to euthanasia?
They are agenst euthanasia because they belive that all human life is sacred and is given by Allah, and that He choses the time and place you will die. They believe that interfering with this is going against the will of Allah.
32
Definition: Fiqh
Decision made by human understanding of the law
33
Explanation on Muslim stance on embryonic stem cell research
While it is not ideal, the ethical teaching of necessity (greater good) is invoked
34
Definition: Qiyas
Creasoning of Islamic scholars using comparative analogy (alim)
35
Elaborate on the ethical principal of 'Necessity'
In difficult ethical decisions, the lesser of the two evils will be chosen. Therefore, necessity can override traditional rulings
For instance, where no other alternatives are available, Muslims may use medications containing alcohol or pig by-products which would be haram in other circumstances.
36
Definition: Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi’i, Hanbali
The four schools of Islamic Jurisprudence in Sunni Islam
37
Outline the process of Islamic Jurisprudence
1. An issue of debate surfaces
2. Muslims then look to the Qur'an and Sunna to see if there is a direct reference to the issue.
3. If there is no referece, qiyas using comparative analogy is used.
4. The court comes to an Ijma, or consensus
5. A fiqh (decision) is ruled
6. If the decision is unclear a fatwa is ruled which is usually non-binding and more suggestive. If not, than the fiqh becomes part of Shari'a.
38
What are the two sources that all ethical teachings in Islam are drawn from?
Tawhid or the oneness of God and the umma, or the interests of the wider community.
39
Definition: One entitled to give an independent judgement on a point of theology or law in Iran, the title of Ayatullah has been applied to mujtahids in recent times.
Mujtahid
40
Definition: The wider Islamic community
Umma
41
What concept does Islam revolve around?
Islam revolves around submission to Allah
42
Muslim stance on genetic engineering
Generally forbidden as God’s nature is not to be tampered with. However, it is allowed in cases of creating medicine for people such as gene therapy or other genetically engineered treatments. Apart from combating illness, it is not allowed
43
What is embryonic stem cell research?
Due to the limitations of IVF, more embryos are produced than required, and when they are not implanted, they are frozen indefinitliey.
These cells could be used to create regenatitve cells to treat various desieases such as diabetes and Parkinson.
44
Definition: Umma
The wider Islamic community
45
Definition: Jafari
The school of Islamic Jurisprudence in Shi'i Islam
46
Definition: Maslaha
The public interest
47
What is a Qur'anic verse pertaining to genetic engineering?
"and assuredly I will incite them and they will effect a change in the creation of Allah.' And he who takes Satan as a friend besides Allah has certainly suffered a manifest loss." (Surah 4:120)
48
Definition: Thousands of hadith reports collated into a single body of writing.
Sunna
49
Definition: Urf
Local customary precedents
50
Definition: Creasoning of Islamic scholars using comparative analogy (alim)
Qiyas
51
Outline the differences between Sunni and Shi'i Jurisprudence system.
Sunni’s decision making is more democratic while Shi’i is more authoritative. Sunni’s are more inclined to listen to everyone democratically as they believe that everyone has a direct connection to Allah while Shi’i tend to follow authority of the Ayatollah as they belive they are blessed by Allah, rejecting ijma.
52
Definition: Comparative analogy
Alim
53
Definition: Means ‘follow’, ‘imitate’ In Islamic legal terminology, it means to follow a mujtahid - a person who is an expert in Islamic jurisprudence.
Taqlid
54
Elaborate on the ethical principal of 'Allah's will is of the utmost importance'
Muslims ground their ethical principles in the essential notion of ‘tawhid’. Because of the greatness of Allah, human beings are expected to obey him and fulfill his purposes in life. Allah’s decisions should be abided by as he’s the all-knowing God (tawhid)
It is only out of his wisdom and mercy that he provided humans with a legal system, including commands and prohibitions so that humanity knows what benefits or harms humans in this world and thereafter. Thus, every obligation from God is indeed guidance.
55
Definition: Natural instinct
Fitrah
56
Definition: Local customary precedents
Urf
57
Quote - Allah's will is of the utmost importance
“Serve Allah and join not partners with him;...” (Qur'an)
58
Muslim stance on Embryonic Stem Cell research
Agree with the use of Embryonic stem cell research as it may be a preventative measure against diseases
59
Definition: Ayatollah
Senior Islamic Scholar: most qualified jurisprudents of each generation
60
Definition: Actions that are forbidden in Shari’a law
Haram
61
Definition: Jurisprudence
The science of law. The Islamic form of governance,
62
Elaborate on the ethical principal of 'the sanctity of human life'
According to Islam, life is the most important aim in the universe as it is belived to be a gift and blessing from Allah.
Life should be protected at all costs, even if it has poor quality.
Life must be appreciated and respected: killing an innocent person is considered murder, but represents an insult to human life as a whole
63
What is a Qur'anic verse pertaining to euthanasia?
"I [Allah] give life and cause death." (Surah 2:258)
64
Quote - Fitrah
“And by the soul He who proportioned it and inspired it with discernment of wickedness and righteousness” (Qur'an)
65
What are the five basic rights of Shari'a?
Life:
- Every person has a right to live in safety and earn their livelihood
Property:
- Owning and preserving one’s personal property is a fundamental right
Human mind:
- No one, including the self, society, and state, should create or remove the ability to think freely
Belief and Religion:
- There is no compulsion in religion and every person has a right to keep and pass their religion to future generations
Family and lineage:
- Humans have the right to raise a family
66
Definition: A term that is used to describe doing wrong against Allah, someone else or yourself.
Zulm
67
Definition: Hudud
Arabic word meaning "borders, boundaries, limits". In the religion of Islam it refers to punishments that under Islamic law (shariah) are mandated and fixed by God.
68
Definition: Mullah
Islamic theologian and lawyer
69
Definition: Haram
Actions that are forbidden in Shari’a law
70
Definition: Consensus reached by the qiyas
Ijma
71
What are the three main ethical principals in Islam?
- Allah’s will is of the utmost importance
- Sanctity of human life
- Necessity
72
Definition: Ijma
Consensus reached by the qiyas
73
Definition: Mahdi
Divinely guided leader who is to come in the future to establish God’s rule on earth and a socially just society, restore the community to its rightful place and usher in a perfect Islamic society.
74
Muslim stance on euthanasia
Muslims are against euthanasia. The Quran forbids consenting to one’s own destruction
75
Definition: Taqlid
Means ‘follow’, ‘imitate’ In Islamic legal terminology, it means to follow a mujtahid - a person who is an expert in Islamic jurisprudence.
76
Definition: Mujtahid
One entitled to give an independent judgement on a point of theology or law in Iran, the title of Ayatullah has been applied to mujtahids in recent times.
77
Definition: Legal verses in the Qur’an
Ayat al-ahkam
78
Definition: Religious leader in Muslim culture (pastor equivalant)
Imam
