Topics: The human creation is a central theme in the Quran. It does not only discuss the creation of Adam by God, but also the creation of every human being and its prenatal development. On this basis and taking into account other religious, medical and philosophical sources Islamic medieval scholars have developed an “Islamic embryology”. It was used by Islamic scholars to decide whether abortion and contraception are allowed or prohibited by Islamic law. Although the medieval assumptions about human prenatal development are outdated and replaced by modern scientific findings, the ancient texts are still of great importance for contemporary Muslims. This is reflected in the statements of Islamic scholars on various issues of reproductive medicine (e. g., in-vitro-fertilization and embryo research).

Place: Richard-Henkes-Saal, Philosophisch-Theologische Hochschule Vallendar
Time: 5.00–8.00 p. m.
Organiser: Institut für interkulturelle und interreligiöse Begegnung (IIIB), Institut für wissenschaftliche Weiterbildung (IWW), Philosophisch-Theologische Hochschule Vallendar (PTHV). Link (extern)

Summary: Specific issues arise in German hospitals in regard to the treatment of Muslim patients, for example how they can practice their religion and how religious peculiarities can be taken into account in hospitals. While the patient expects medical treatment and healing and entrusts himself in a far-reaching dependence on the doctors and the medical practitioners, they on their side need knowledge and understanding of the needs of Muslim patients, readiness for a certain organizational flexibility and particularly communication skills. These qualities are often grouped under the terms “cultural sensitivity” and “intercultural communication” and are a necessary condition for successful medical treatment healthcare professionals. HTML Link to the journal (external)

Summary: This study gives an overview of the historical, systematic and recent aspects of prenatal human life in Islam. It describes, analyses and discusses the religious sources and positions in classical Islamic law and their natural philosophical basis as well as the answers of contemporary Islamic religious scholars and Muslim scientists to the challenging questions in reproductive medicine and the life sciences. Finally it presents the legal situation in selected Islamic states described the cultural and historical context of the Middle East. It deals with several singular themes, e. g. termination of pregnancy, contraception, population control, in-vitro-fertilisation and research in human embroys. It also contains excursions on the concept of science and the terminology used in the Islamic discourse.
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Summary: The question of the admissibility and ethical evaluation of organ donation from an Islamic point of view can not be answered in a simple way, because it affects fundamental religious beliefs, especially the attitude to illness and healing and life and death. Therefore, the issue of “organ transplantation” is hotly debated in both the Islamic societies and amongst Islamic scholars. In my German article I present general trends and characteristics of the “Islamic debate” on organ transplantation, discuss the example of Egypt and give a brief overview of the attitude of Muslims towards organ donation and transplantation in the “Western world”. HTML Link to the publisher’s announcement (external)

This year’s topics: PID in medical practice (Ulrich Hilland), statutory provisions for the diagnosis on the embryo (Ralf Müller-Terpitz), Possible impacts of the medical malpractice law on the diagnosis on the embryo (Dirk Olzen).

Organiser: BMBF-NWG ELSA at the Institute of Science and Ethics (IWE), Bonn/Germany in cooperation with the Faculty of Law of the University of Passau/Germany. Link to the internet site of the symposium (extern)