This document discusses perspectives on genetically modified foods from several Islamic scholars and philosophers. Ibrahim Syed argues that genetic engineering does not totally conflict with Islam if its aims are curative. Majid Katme believes genetic modification of food conflicts with Islam by manipulating God's creation. Cardinal Martino supports genetic modification to address starvation, while Fatima Agha al-Hayani says it must be "mercy-driven" and promote righteousness. The status of GM foods' permissibility in Islam remains unclear without evidence of harm. Researchers argue GM foods can help feed people and reduce environmental impacts with proper safeguards.

1. LAW AND PHILOSOPHY
Genetically Modified Food (GMF)
increase productivity against
negative impact on the environment
1

2. What is Genetic Modified Food ?
The term genetically-modified food or
genetically-modified organism is commonly refer
to crop plants which was created for human or
animal by using biological technique.
It was only a food items that have undergo DNA change
through some procedure. The process involve combining a
different genes of another organisms which the resulting
organism is called genetically modified or genetically
engineered.
The main purpose of the food being
modified is to enhance desired traits such
as increase or improved nutritional content.
2

3. MEDICINES
VACCINES
FOODS AND INGREDIENTS
FIBERS
3

4. PHILOSOPHER background
Dr Ibrahim b. Syed was born in South India and
he have received his academic education at
Ibrahim Syed University of Mysore. Other than that he have
obtained his doctor of Science degree in 1972 in
Radiological Sciences.
He was born in Lebanon. Dr Katme have received
his medical doctorate from Cairo University in
1970. Other than that, he specialized in
Majid Katme psychiatry and has become an important man in
United Kingdom for rising issues on medical
ethics and family issues. Currently he is one of
chairman in the Islamic Medical Association of
the United Kingdom 4

5. Fatima Agha al-Hayani
Fatima is a lecturer and a court Cardinal Renato Martino
expert on Islamic Jurispudence.
Cardinal Renato is and Italian
She has the specialty in Islamic Cardinal Deacon which born on 23
Family Law. Other than Novermber 1932 in Salerno where
that, she was one of the active he was appoint as a priest in 1957.
presenter of workshops on He have a doctorate in Canon law
Islam, Islamic Law, Women in and have mastered a several
Islam and in the Arab languages fluently. At early age, he
World, the Middle eastern entered the Vatican’s diplomatic
History, and last but not least service in 1962 and served at
regarding to society and culture several places such as Philiphines
of Islam and Canada.
5

6. PHILOSOPHY
Ibrahim Syed
• -Opinion - Quranic verse forbidding man from defacing
God’s creation “ cannot be invoked as a total and
radical ban on genetic engineering.... if carried too far,
it would conflict with many forms of curative surgery
that also entail some change in God’s creation”
Majid Katme
• -Opinion- quotes copiously from the Quran, “there is
no need for genetic modification of food crops because
God created everything perfectly and man does not
have any right to manipulate anything that god has
created using His divine wisdom.
6

7. Cardinal Renato Martino
• -Opinion – Supports genetic modification
of food as an answer for world starvation
and malnutrition and because “scientific
progress was part of the divine plan”
Fatima Agha al-Hayani
• -Opinion – she contends that Muslims
must ensure that genetic modification
“may remain mercy-driven” and
promote righteousness.
7

8. Islamic View on GMF
8

9. Complex issues :
• Whether a certain • Muslim concern on
food is “halal” or not the food purity which
although there is absorb by the body as
already a certainly it is a need to have a
part of it but it cause good health in order
difficulty after the to run our daily life as
food is modified. a muslim.
9

10. To make easy of Muslims must connect
scientific knowledge
all muslims and and ethical behavior
not to tortured based on faith
ISLAMIC
PRINCIPLES
Islam view has not prohibited
All the thing that been as long as the development of
done must be parallel technology is parallel with the
with what is right and principle of Islam and not over
rule any of those principle of
what is wrong life in Islam
10

11. Genetically modified food
Argument will violate certain Islamic
by Muslims principles that people
scholars should help the needy
without being motivated by
profit
All the food is consume by
the body, and as a muslim if
the food bring and cause Whether the
harm to the body it is Genetically
“Haram” and is not a food modified food do in
that should be consume fact prevent harm
If it affect the biodiversity it can
be regarded as harmful
11

12. Status of “halal”:
The Islamic There is still In Malaysia
Jurisprudence a doubts there is
Council and among Biosafety
Islamic Food muslims as
and Nutrition Act which
there is no make label
Council of evidence
America take for
saying the
the position genetically
that the Genetically
modified
modified
Genetically food
modified food food is
is ‘Halal’ ‘Halal’
12

13. GROUP OPINION :
Fatima Agha Al-Hayani (PREFERRED)
-Muslims must ensure that genetic modification “may remain mercy-
driven and promote righteousness”.
Fatima Agha Al-Hayani parallel with
-As long as the technology do not cause Islamic principle.
harm to the people or the environment it -As a human we should help other
will be regarded as safe and be accepted by human beings.
the people
-All the flaw of the food should be
overcome by doing research as this
food have its own benefit to help
-The aim of modifying the food itself should those in need
be same which is to help those in need as
the food supply is not enough to support
billion of people which increase from time
to time
13

14. Fatima Agha Al-Hayani
(PREFERRED) cont.
-There is a potential
danger of the Genetic
modified food, -
however we have to
-The researcher should
see beyond the scope
play an important role to
as it can actually give search more ways to
benefit to the people overcome or minimize
the risk or problem
relating to the genetic
modified food
14

15. Research by Graham Brookes and Peter Barfoot
-“ the environmental impact” of pesticide and herbicide
use in genetic modified food have been reduced by 15%
and 20% respectively
-Genetic modified -The genetically
food improved modified food or
-The genetic crops is more
production which
modified food efficient which it
mean the amount of
require fewer cuts emissions and
land needed for
pesticides which as a save energy used
planting or farming is
result it lowers rate
less and therefore is
of food poisoning
conserve the
and can keeps water
environment from
sources clean ‘BEFORE AND AFTER’
being explored to
much
15

16. I. Unintended Harm To Other Organisms - to create
GM plants that are male sterile (do not produce pollen)
or to modify the GM plant so that the pollen does not
contain the introduced gene.
-cross-pollination would not occur, and if harmless
insects such as monarch caterpillars were to eat pollen
from GM plants, the caterpillars would survive.
II. Reduced Effectiveness Of Pesticides
-to create buffer zones around fields of GM crops
III. Gene transfer to non-target species
-Gene transfer to weeds and other crops would not
occur because the wind-blown pollen would not travel
beyond the buffer zone.
16

17. • However, we must proceed
with caution to avoid
• Many people feel that causing unintended harm
genetic engineering is to human health and the
the inevitable wave of environment as a result of
the future and that we our enthusiasm for this
cannot afford to ignore powerful technology.
a technology that has
such enormous
potential benefits.
• Genetically-modified foods have the
potential to solve many of the world's
hunger and malnutrition problems, and to
help protect and preserve the
environment by increasing yield and
reducing reliance upon chemical
pesticides and herbicides. 17