Ethical Implications of the Self-Ownership in Islamic Teachings

The Self-Ownership in different doctrines and schools has different interpretations and accordingly the scope of freedom of action of individuals has a particular meaning. The present study analyzes the topic of the Self-Ownership in Islamic teachings and its ethical implications.

This analytical study was conducted using verses, narratives and Jurisprudential and legal arguments in examining the Self-Ownership in Islamic teachings and analyzing its ethical implications.

In Islamic doctrine, the Self-Ownership does not mean absolute autonomy that excludes all aspects of collective and even individual morality. Wisdom and the Shari'a as both supporters and guides of individual freedom have an important role in limiting the Self-Ownership. In Islamic ethics and law, human is dominant over himself; that means, he is dominant over his time and affaires, but he cannot forgo his own life based on his own will. Therefore, suicide and euthanasia are basically illegitimate. In the control of the body organs, any action that causes serious unintentional harm to itself is unlawful. Thus, compromise on organ amputation is illegitimate and organ donation is legitimate in certain cases.

The Self-Ownership in Islamic doctrine does not mean freedom to harm one or the other. Thus in Islamic doctrine, ethics means the peaceful coexistence of human beings with a view to the common good, which is the opposite of extremist individualism in Western legal systems