Genetic Modification of Human Characteristics and Capacities in View of Ethics and Jurisprudence

Genetic technology and its application on man is one of the newly discovered scientific issues that helps genetic modification of human forces and capacities to change him into a super-human. Genetic modification of human capacities is creating a change, altering or genetically modifying human genes so that some organs function beyond natural limits of humans. Genetic modification does not pursue treatment of people with certain diseases; rather, it reinforces genetic characteristics of a healthy human. The general ethical codes and principles as well as the rule of wisdom that are based on the advantages and disadvantages of using this technology, serve as guidelines for us in issuing an ethical rule on reinforcing human capacities through this technology. To that end, this paper intends to have access to a crystal clear ethical rule on genetic modification based on ethics and Fiqh or Islamic jurisprudence. We will study genetic modification of human capacities by genetic selection of the embryo in comparison with genetic modification of human capacities through genetic recombinant. In the meantime, we will discuss in detail the disadvantages and damages coming from genetic modification, highlight its unethical manners and propose its prohibition by law.