Al-Qur'an
The Women (An-Nisa)
4:116-119


Allah does not forgive
that equals are ascribed to Him,
but absolves all else as he wills....
...instead of Him they invoke Satan the obstinate rebel
Who was condemned by Allah and who said:
"I shall take creatures from your creation
and mislead them and tempt them,
and order them to torture animals
and to alter Allah's creation"

4:120

Whatever promises he [Satan] makes,
whatever desires he enkindles,
and whatever hopes Satan rouses in them,
are no more than delusions.


In the light of this verse from the Qur'an how do Muslims justify working in the area of genetic engineering? :shrug:

Wrong translation; its an historical incident not a primer on genetics

4:117-119

(The Pagans), leaving Him, call but upon female deities: They call but upon satan the persistent rebel!

Allah did curse him, but he said: "I will take of Thy servants a portion Marked off;

"I will mislead them, and I will create in them false desires; I will order them to slit the ears of cattle, and to deface the (fair) nature created by Allah." Whoever, forsaking Allah, takes satan for a friend, hath of a surety suffered a loss that is manifest.

Wrong translation; its an historical incident not a primer on genetics

4:117-119

(The Pagans), leaving Him, call but upon female deities: They call but upon satan the persistent rebel!

Allah did curse him, but he said: "I will take of Thy servants a portion Marked off;

"I will mislead them, and I will create in them false desires; I will order them to slit the ears of cattle, and to deface the (fair) nature created by Allah." Whoever, forsaking Allah, takes satan for a friend, hath of a surety suffered a loss that is manifest.


The Qur'an is not a history book.

It's a message from Allah.

Interpreted your translation teaches the same lesson... if you take Satan as your God by defacing Allah's creation you will go to hell.

I can't see any room for misinterpretation. :shrug:

Yeah, so it depends on intent and motivation (false desires). Even if you take it as applying to genetic engineering, wrongful intent and motives would construe science without morality or for profit rather than common good. If you read further along that same sura, it says that those who are on the path of righteousness are blessed. I would assume that to mean that knowledge should be used for good, that is the path of righteousness.

In Islam, knowledge is not evil, it is the motive in application of it which may be.

It also says in the Quran not to hasten to apply verses to knowledge

[20:114] Do not be in haste with the Qur'an before its revelation to you is completed, but say, "O my Sustainer! Increase my knowledge."

If you read further along that same sura, it says that those who are on the path of righteousness are blessed. I would assume that to mean that knowledge should be used for good, that is the path of righteousness.


Well what it says is:

[4:122] But those who believe and do good deeds
We shall admit into gardens with streams of running water
where they will abide forever.

This isn't quite the same thing as 'those who are on the path of righteousness are blessed', which is weaker and suggests that Muslims who follow Allah's laws will receive their rewards in this world. Unfortunately, Islamic scholars are bending over backwards to please selfish western interests who impatiently want heaven on a plate now.

The Qur'an invites us to acknowledge and contemplate signs of our impending end and makes it clear that the future belongs to the dead not the living:

[6:32]
What is the life of this world but play and amusement?
But best is the home in the hereafter, for those who are righteous.
Will you not then understand?

[Qur'an 18:45] "And put forward to them the example of the life of this world:
It is like the water [rain] which We send down from the sky,
and the vegetation of the earth mingles with it, and becomes fresh and green.
But [later] it becomes dry and broken pieces, which the winds scatter.
And Allah is Able to do everything."

[Al-Hakim] "The Hour has drawn near, whereas the people have become more greedy for the life of the world and more remote from Allah."


In all honesty, how can you extol the virtues of certain applications of genetic engineering when the Qur'an has made it quite clear we'd be better off dead?

I cannot see how you arrive at your conclusions.

First it is from Sura Nisa (the Woman); and talks about idolatory and the consequences of choosing that which is wrong over that which is right. Clipping the ears of cows does not translate to genetic engineering (you may want to look up why the cows ears were clipped).

It is about choices and those who believe and do good deeds are making the right choice.

Here is the tafseer of the relevant ayahs

In order to make the Islamic Community firm and strong for defence, the Muslims have been enjoined to observe the highest standard of justice. The Muslims are required to deal out strict justice even in case of the enemy, with whom they might be involved in war. They should also settle disputes between husband and wife with justice. In order to ensure this, they should keep their beliefs and deeds absolutely free from every kind of impurity and should become the standard bearers of justice. 105 - 135
http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/maududi/mau4.html

Wrong translation; its an historical incident not a primer on genetics

4:117-119

(The Pagans), leaving Him, call but upon female deities: They call but upon satan the persistent rebel!

Allah did curse him, but he said: "I will take of Thy servants a portion Marked off;

"I will mislead them, and I will create in them false desires; I will order them to slit the ears of cattle, and to deface the (fair) nature created by Allah." Whoever, forsaking Allah, takes satan for a friend, hath of a surety suffered a loss that is manifest.



Thanks for sorting that out, SAM.


Its like the scientific research on bacon sandwiches, meat, processed and red and units of alcohol.

People just take out one sentence of what is a highly complex matter.