Here is pioneering research paper by Sheikh Mohammed Shihabuddin Nadvi,
a leading Islamic luminary of the present Muslim world.
Cloning Testifies Resurrection
Man has confirmed the Islamic belief by this experiment and refuted
materialism
Does a buried man be raised again? Is the resurrection possible when all
the parts of the dead body have been either scattered, destroyed or have
turned into dust alone? Right from the yore to the present day, all men
who do not believe in God and His powers have been refuting the very
idea of resurrection as it was advocated by religion. The atheists and
the materialists have been condemning this concept as mere human fantasy
and religious innovation. They claim that they have no rational basis at
all.
Resurrection is Inevitable Truth
A great blow has been hurled on to the claims of these so-called
rationalists. Cloning has successfully produced a replica of an animal
through a process which does not involve any sexual intercourse. This
development of a cell into a full-fledged living entity does provide an
irrefutable proof of the claim of resurrection by religion. Whatever
might be the purpose and aim of such an experiment, none can dare
dismiss the happening of the Resurrection Day now!
Sowing Human Beings
The possible happening of the Doom's Day has been made light of or even
laughed at by scientists themselves and others enamoured by science
equally! Reviving a dead after complete destruction was a far-fetched
myth. And now when the Scot scientist Ian Wilmut has produced a carbon
copy of the mother by taking a cell from her and developing it in the
laboratory, they are holding their breath! Such successful experiments
have been carried on frogs and monkeys too! It is now possible to
manufacture an exact replica of a human being by developing the cell in
a laboratory and then implanting it in a foetus taken on hire. And all
this would be without involving any sexual process. Ian Wilmut does
claim that production of such human beings might be possible in about
another two years.
The `"Clone Ewe" has been christened as Dolly. It is seven months old
while its cell is claimed to be six and a half years old. This means the
cell was obtained 6 1/2 years ago and preserved in the laboratory to be
developed into a living body later. Cloning thus does not involve any
sexual intercourse at all! This newly developed process of Genetical
Engineering is a highly complicated and costly process involving
millions of dollars.
What would be the moral and social effects of such a development? Hot
discussions have started all around. That these experiments should not
be extended to humans is the view propounded and propagated by religious
bodies. In fact such experiments have been banned even in some of the
western countries. But for how long?
Basic Biological System
The production of the exact replica of a man from a single cell
indicates that innumerable persons can be brought out from the cells
present in his body. Cells, as is known, are the building units of all
living bodies. Each of these units function as an organised factory
since a dynamic matter namely protoplasm is present in it. In addition
chromosomes and DNA present in them constitute genetic material. One of
the characteristics of these genetic matter is the preservation of
parental and species characteristics. And these characteristics pass on
from parent to the progeny. It is for this reason that the offsprings
have close resemblance in colour, facial features and other physical
characteristics as well as their behaviour and actions. It can safely be
surmised that the complete personality lays hidden in the tiny cell. The
formation of the child starts from two cells one of which will be the
contribution of the father and the other belongs to the mother. When
these two unite the process of fertilisation starts through continuous
cell division within a matter of minutes and this process leads to the
formation of the embryo in about 120 days within in the womb of the
mother.
Copying Divine Creation
So now man has become successful in deciphering the process of creation.
Starting from a single cell without the help of any sexual process, he
has discovered the process of artificial creation. Although for him this
whole process has been a conscious effort, unknowingly he has produced
irrefutable proof of the resurrection of the life on the Doomsday. The
materialistic scientists have, thus, themselves certified the veracity
of the teachings of the great Prophets. Of course this they have done
unconsciously. So now it is established scientifically that even if a
single cell of a body survives after the death, the person can be
revived. Revival of life, thus, is not an impossibility.
Revelation through a Tradition
Arriving at the truth scientifically, let us go back to the study of a
few Traditions of the holy Prophet (Pbuh). This will shed light on the
revival of life from a fresh angle and certain new facts would be
revealed. According to certain Traditions, when the whole body is
perished — flesh and bones and all, on burying of the dead under
mud, everything is perished except the coccyx through which the
recreation takes place. (Sahih Bukhari, V.6, P.79 & Sahih Muslim, V.4,
P.2271) In another Tradition this vestigial bone is described to be as
big as a mustard seed. (Ibne Hajar Asqalani, Fathul Bari, V.8, P.552)
This indicates that it is a very tiny body. Being a devoted student of
biological processes I was bold enough to equate this body to a
‘cell’ and had discussed in detail in some of my earlier
books the resurrection of life utilizing this cell. The present
discoveries have established my conjecture as a fact. What this author
had conjectured nearly ten to fifteen years ago has turned out to be a
reality, i.e., the same person can be brought out alive from the single
surviving cell. From this count a great revolution is contemplated in
the field of philosophy and thought and that will be the Islamic
Revolution. It would be an extraordinary revolution which would bury all
old theories, corollaries and material philosophies for ever.
A New Life after Death
How does the single cell survive for ages together? New light has been
thrown on this aspect by modern researches. As is known, various
bacteria are single cell bodies that remain alive lying dormant
physically for thousands of years under unfavourable conditions and then
suddenly rise alive when favourable conditions become available. These
microscopic bodies have their existence spread all over in earth, water
and atmosphere. Similar single cell systems are also present in all
animals and plants. Every living body is a conglomeration of innumerable
tiny cells. Bacteria are single cell bodies. Insects comprise of
hundreds and thousands of cells. Bigger animals have millions of these
cells, while still larger animals like tiger, sheep and even man do
possess billions and billions of these cells. These facts lead to the
conclusion that the cell system is similar in the whole of biological
world and that there will be a continuous process of fragmentation and
synthesizing taking place all through. The worn out cells fade out,
while fresh ones would be formed. A human cell resembles bacteria in
form and constitutes a single unit of life.
According to modern researches certain bacteria would lie buried dead
under heavy mud for thousands of years and then get revived as soon as
favourable conditions become available. The bacteria are said to be
under “dormancy” during this period and are referred as
Spores. (Vide Encyclopedia Britannica, 1983, V. 10, P. 893)
The Dead in Dormant Condition
This condition is a great witness on the resurrection. Even if one cell,
which resembles a bacteria, gets preserved without undergoing decaying,
it is possible to reproduce the man who will be the exact copy of the
first. This means, ‘death’ is only an apparent condition. In
reality it is in a dormant condition which is akin to deep sleep.
Referring to the resurrection, the glorious Qur’an and the holy
Traditions relate that when the men are raised alive again, then
everyone would feel that he has waken from deep slumber:
The trumpet shall be sounded, when behold! From the sepulchers (men)
will rush forth to their Lord! They will say, Ah! Woe unto us! Who hath
raised us up from our beds of repose?(A voice will say) This is what
(God) Most Gracious had promised. And true was the word of the apostles!
It will be no more than a single Blast. When lo! they will all be
brought up before Us! (Quran, 36:51-53)
Divine and Human Creations
Cloning involving the production of a replica of an animal is not a
simple or ordinary affair. It is quite complex and complicated. For
example, to get the above clone of the sheep the experiment had to be
repeated about 300 times i.e., 300 embryos were destroyed to obtain one
clone. There is no such ‘waste’ in case of the creations
carried out by the Creator of the universe. His one single commandment
is enough to make the whole creation to rise up, as is seen in the above
verse.
The reference to coccyx in the holy Traditions quoted earlier is only
for the reflection of man. The creator is not bound by anything for
expression of His Powers. It is only He Who creates things from nothing,
For Him it is only enough to utter "Be" and that thing happens.
And whenever He willeth to create anything, He simply orderth it, `Be
and there, it is. So glory be to Him Whose hand holdeth sovereignty over
everything and to Him shall ye all have to return. (Quran, 36:82-83)
The successful creation of a whole animal from a single cell clearly
unravels the nature of resurrection. It has also come to be known that
man can repeat this process a number of times. Then will the Creator of
the heavens and the earth fail to revive His creations? The fact is that
this successful experiment of cloning by the scientists has certified
the veracity of the belief in the Resurrection Day!
This process of Creation through a single cell is a common observance
for man, since he comes across it in the form of embryo formation.
Similar would be the creation of man through the single cell on the
Resurrection Day.
And ye certainly know already the first form of creation. Will ye not
then reflect that you will be raised again like this. (Quran, 56:62)
Has Man Become God?
Apart from the religious faith, let us view this unique achievement of
man through another angle. Has man become God through producing this
clone? Is this human achievement a reflection on the divinity of God?
Some persons do feel that man has superseded God. Such thinking is
merely a fallacy. In reality these achievements strengthen man’s
faith in Almighty God, because although this production appears to be a
miracle, it is certainly not unnatural. The scientists have only studied
the principles of nature more closely and deeply and have merely
repeated the natural process. They have imitated the process of divine
creation. If man were to perform this feat starting from dead bodies or
mud, it would have certainly been a great miracle. He has now taken a
cell already created by God and produced the clone. When he is not the
creator of the cell, he cannot be the creator of this cloning also. He
can never reach the realms of creation. He can only be an imitator
Challenge from the Glorious Qur’an
The Glorious Qur`an challenges in very clear terms that even if all men
of the world or the false gods join together, they can never be able to
create even a fly:
O people! an idea to ponder on is set forth to you. Pay heed to it. Note
that they whom you invoke beside god, cannot create even a fly though
all of them join to do it. (Qur’an, 22:73)
This parable was then applicable to the false gods of the polytheists.
But now it is true of the scientists whom the common man elevates to the
status of gods. The present day belief is that scientists can achieve
anything!? If science does think or claim that it can occupy the berth
of creation, let it perform such a feat taking dead bodies. It can never
accomplish this task! Hence the creator of this whole universe is only
one and will remain so for ever!
Such is God, your Lord, the Creator of all things, There is no god but
He: Then how ye are deluded away from the Truth. (Quran, 40:62)
Bungling with Divine Creation is Satanic
This process cannot be taken as a creative act. It can well be referred
as a destructive act since it bungles with divine creations. This fact
was placed before the humanity by the All-knowing God right at the time
when Satan was cursed and abandoned from the heavens when the devil
declared:-
... I will command them to disfigure God`s creation. (Qur;an, 4:119)
The verse is followed by:
Satan makes them promises, and creates in them false desires (hopes).
But Satan’s promises are nothing but deception. (Quran, 4:120)
The word used here is Ghuroora which indicates that one is prone to
deceiving others and to raising false hopes. The present action by being
devilish in character is akin to deceiving humanity rising in them false
hopes. In this there is hidden threat for the entire humanity.
Moral and Cultural Impact of Cloning
What is the solution for social problems and complications that would
arise because of this process? To find the solution would be the
responsibility of the persons who might be bent to commit the crime of
reducing the best of the creations to the lowest of beastly level and to
transgressing all the levels of morality. They might turn men into
guinea pigs. All this would be for the simple reason that man has
forgotten his creator and master, has sought refuge in materialism and
looks for solace through indulgence in material pleasures. For him
nothing but matter exists. There is no room for the existence of any
supreme power in the universe before whom he is answerable. Hence he has
become his own master and overlooking the divine cues, he has closed his
eyes from the hard facts of life. He feels quite independent and never
allows anyone to restrict, reprimand or advice him.
However it is time that he can no more overlook God, Soul and Belief in
the Doomsday. There is no go but for believing in Islamic faith and
commandments. God willing, He will be presenting miraculous proofs of
His existence repeatedly.
Soon will We show them Our Signs in the (farthest) regions (of the
earth), and in their own souls, until it becomes manifest to them that
this is the Truth. (Quran, 41:53)
End of Material Philosophies
Cloning is going to bring a great revolution in the realm of philosophy
and thought which would prove the veracity of religion and religious
thought and end all materialistic and atheistic philosophies. This is so
because scientists themselves, through their successful experiments,
have hit hard on the material philosophies which propagate that religion
is a farce and declare that all knowledge that is not obtained through
senses has no standing at all because only such knowledge has a standing
which is based on the outcome of naturalism and experimentation,
Materialism, rationalism, scientism, logical positivism etc. are all
brain children of such thinking process. But now, after the successful
outcome of cloning, all these philosophies are proved out of date. The
veracity of religious declarations has been proved. It has been
established that knowledge is not merely the one that is arrived at
through sensory experimentation but also that which is got through
revelation and inspiration. Is it not strange that human knowledge
itself is testifying and proving the validity and truth of Divine
Knowledge; and Revelation through its experiments, researches and
activities. What would be more exciting and surprising than
contradicting its own declarations! Such a contradiction of words
through the actions does not stand the tests of rationality itself!
And He shows you (always) His Signs; then which of the Signs of God will
ye deny? (Quran, 40:81)
Stop and Ponder!
Do the above arguments not prove the existence of an All-powerful and
Supreme Being in the universe Whose knowledge is perennial and events
are happening in accordance with His planning? And that the Day of
Judgment would be an inevitable and irrefutable fact wherein the whole
humanity, after resurrection, would be gathered for final interrogation
and judgment.
The coming Event (Judgment) is drawing nigh: There is none beside God to
ward it off. Do ye wonder at such an announcement, and laugh and weep
not, and continue trifling (with the thought of it)? So in utmost
humility, bow down before God and pray to Him. (Quran, 53:57-62)
>>
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