Islamic scientists favor biotechnology, says Muslim educator

A LEADING Muslim educator favors the safe use and propagation of biotechnology in agriculture and medicine as long as the procedures and technology used comply with the basic tenets of the Koran.

In a forum among scientists, Christians and Muslim leaders held at Annabel’s Restaurant in Quezon City, Monday, Dr. Carmen Abubakar, dean of the University of the Philippines-Institute of Islamic Studies (UP-IIS) said biotechnology or genetically modified food is acceptable to Muslims only as long as the processed product is clearly labeled as “free from haram elements.”

Haram generically means taboo but in the case of food, it refers to ingredients like swine extracts, blood, wine and other elements that Muslims are barred from consuming.

Abubakar said biotechnology is not new to the Islamic world, adding that as early as 2000, Muslim scientists have already been studying genetically modified organisms (GMO) and their potential contribution to the growing Muslim population.

In an Islamic conference held in Rabat, Morocco on October 24, 2001, the Islamic Academy of Science (IAS) came out with the “Rabat Declaration on Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering for development in the Islamic World.”

According to Abubakar, the IAS issued a decree that as long as genetically modified products are of good quality and pose no risk to the person and the environment, the Muslims may use them.

The Malaysian Biotechnology Information center also came out with ethical criteria regarding the use of biotechnological products like processed food.

The report said that ethical criteria for any food to be consumed by Muslims is known as halalan tayyipan which means “permissible” based on Shariah perspective. Food quality and safety are of utmost importance to those who profess the Islamic faith.

“In the case of GM foods, as long as they meet these criteria, then it is consumable by Muslims,” Abubakar said.  “The IAS is determining the sources of GM food. If the source is coming from items which are labeled as haram which means forbidden to Muslims, so definitely this GMO product is also forbidden.”

On the other hand, Abubakar said that technological conversion of anything derived from swine, whether it is genetic, cannot be consumed by Muslims. She said that this is where the problem of labeling is important.

“It has been found out that some items that are sourced from haram elements enter into processed food but they are not labeled accordingly. The whole Muslim world urges governments to make sure that any product from this technology is consumable according to the Muslims’ ethical prescription. So it is very important that the label clearly states its genetically modified contents.

Bishop Jesus Varela, bishop emeritus of Sorsogon, also told participants that “there are some 800 million people all over the world who are suffering from hunger and malnutrition in varying degrees. Society’s moral responsibility to feed these teeming millions is inexorable, and food biotechnology offers a humane solution since it promises to improve significantly crop yield and increase resistance to pests and diseases.”

Varela told a large group of Muslims in the forum that modern science and technology can offer solutions if applied appropriately, and that the use of GMO in food is a human decision that must be examined under the Rules of Ethics.