Thanks to the ceaseless medical progress, the humankind enjoys much welfare and health care. However, technological breakthroughs, if not ethically regulated and disciplined, may cause as much harm to humanity as benefits. Islamic Shari`ah has prescribed supreme objectives to be observed and certain limits to be preserved to save humanity from the imbalance they would suffer if they go their way unguided.

Dr. Hatem Al-Haj, dean of Shari`ah Academy of America, said,

Islam is not against medical progress, including stem cell research, cloning with the exception of humans and animals, etc.

If you take cells for research or transplantation from an adult person, there is no harm, but the remaining stem cells in adults will be limited. If you take them from the placenta and umbilical cord, that is also OK. If you take them from spontaneously aborted fetuses, that is OK as well. Yet, it is forbidden to induce abortion to take them.

It is also forbidden to fertilize human ova to obtain stem cells thereof; likewise would be cloning for stem cells, since all kinds of human cloning are forbidden, even if they were in the very early stages of genesis.

You cannot destroy life after conception for such reasons as saving another life. That is dangerous, unethical, and, more importantly, haram (prohibited by Allah).

May Allah guide all of us to what pleases Him!