The Prophecy
of Genetic Engineering in the Qur’an
By Dr. Bashir Ahmad
Wildwood, MO
In the present scientific world, it has become
possible to change the features and nature of
life through genetic engineering.
Fourteen hundred years ago, no one would have
imagined that such a feat could be performed,
yet the following verse in the Holy Qur’an
very clearly and distinctly prophesied that such
unwholesome changes shall be made in the Allah’s
creation. The only way to do so is through genetic
manipulation.
The following is a translation of a Qur’anic
verse:
“And he (Satan) said, I will assuredly take
a fixed portion from thy servants, and assuredly
I will lead them astray and assuredly I will incite
them and that will cut the ears of the cattle
and assuredly I will incite them and they will
effect a CHANGE IN THE CREATION OF ALLAH. Thus
whoso takes Satan for a friend beside Allah has
certainly suffered a manifest loss.” (Qur’an
4/120).
It was a common practice among the Arabs in the
pre-Islamic period to make incisions in the ears
of the animals marked for sacrifice to various
gods. The following part of the verse makes most
astounding, dramatic and revolutionary statement
-- that the changes that shall be made in the
creations of Allah.
Genetic engineering is hardly a few decades old,
yet the Holy Qur’an had prophesied about
it fourteen hundred years ago!
The commentators of the Qur’an had difficulty
in the interpretation of this verse because genetic
engineering had not yet developed, so the commentators
of the Qur’an gave the following interpretations
of the verse.
1.Deifying God’s creation.
2.By changing and corrupting the religion of God.
3.By disfiguring the body of the newborn child.
4.By turning to evil use that which Allah has
created for good use etc.
The Qur’an has very correctly described
the human embryology. There are numerous verses
on the subject, following is the translation of
one of them:
“O people, if you are in doubt concerning
being raised up again, then consider that we created
you from dust, then from a sperm drop, then from
clotted blood, then from a lump of flesh, formed
and unformed. We cause that which we will to remain
in the wombs, for an appointed time, then we bring
you forth as babies; then we cause you to grow
that you may attain to your full strength (Qur’an
22/6).
The only way God’s creation can be changed
is through genetic manipulation in a petri dish
prior to implantation of a fertilized ovum into
a receptive uterus.
It is wrong however to infer that the previous
verse (Qur’an 4/120) condemns all possible
usage of genetic engineering. If, for example,
genetic engineering to correct faults in the genetic
codes is caused by mutation thereby curing the
disease that would have ensued in the offspring,
this in no way can be interpreted as an interference
with the divine scheme of things.
However, introducing genes from one species into
another may cause havoc. These days special breeds
of pigs are being raised in different research
centers, in which human genes have been inserted
through genetic manipulation. The main objective
of this endeavor is to harvest pig’s organs
and transplant them into human patients with failing
organs, in the hope that the pig organs containing
human genes will not initiate immune response
and rejection. This exercise is being undertaken
because human organs for transplantation are hard
to come by.
5.The pig organs however do carry grave risks
of carrying lethal viruses for humans. HIV and
Ebola viruses were transferred to humans from
animal reservoirs and have results in the deaths
of millions all over the globe.
Currently there is an intense debate going on
in America about cloning. Senate bill 160 and
the House bill 457, would prohibit all forms of
cloning. This includes somatic cell nuclear transfer.
There is no substantive difference between therapeutic
cloning and reproductive cloning. Both processes
involve removing the nucleus from a human egg
cell and replacing it with one taken from a cell
of a donor. The resulting genetically modified
egg is stimulated to grow by electrical or chemical
means.
If this egg is implanted into a receptive uterus
it will result in pregnancy. If it is not implanted
it will result in stem cells which would be harvested
for the treatment of diseases like Alzheimers,
Parkinsons and diabetes. Both cells have 46 chromosomes
with complete genetic codes. Male has xy and female
xx sex chrosomes.
One marvels at the fulfillment of a grand prophesy
about genetic engineering made 1400 years ago
in the divinely revealed book The Holy Qur’an.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
