Islam does not prohibit modern medicine, experts say

SHAH ALAM - Islam does not prohibit modern medicine, such as vaccines and in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment, as long as they do not contradict the Islamic faith and Shariah.

Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) Human Sciences Centre Associate Professor Dr Mahyuddin Ismail said that the ruling for a Muslim to seek treatment, whether modern or non-Islamic traditional medicine, was permissible as long as it did not go against the religion.

"As long as there are no elements of worship other than Allah, it is allowed. However, if an Islamic practitioner uses methods such as divination or fortune-telling that contradict Islamic faith, it is not permitted.

"Furthermore, surrogacy remains forbidden as it involves using a sperm donor other than the husband, which contradicts Islamic Shariah," he said in an interview with Sinar Harian on Monday.

Mahyuddin, who is also a panel expert in Sufism at the Islamic Development Malaysia Department (Jakim), added that Muslim involvement in the medical field is necessary due to the increasing number of patients.

"Whether the number of doctors among Muslims is still low or high, I do not have specific statistics. However, the Health Ministry (MOH) aims for a doctor-patient ratio of one doctor for every 400 patients by 2025, compared to 700 patients about 13 years ago.

"The Quran in Surah At-Taubah emphasised the importance of having a specific group of people who are trained and educated in beneficial knowledge, including medicine, for the advancement and well-being of the community," he said.

He further added that Malaysia was fortunate to have a fatwa committee and Shariah law at the administrative level to review contemporary cases that were not discussed in the past, such as the issue of vaccines.

"In certain situations, a treatment can become obligatory if it is meant to save a life. Regarding organ transplantation, if it causes greater harm to the donor or the recipient, it is not permitted. For new medical technologies like IVF, it is allowed as long as the lineage is not tainted," he said.

He also acknowledged the existence of a small group of Muslims who rejected modern treatment on the grounds that it contradicted their faith.

However, the number was small because the government had carried out various educational and awareness initiatives on the matter.

Meanwhile, Mahyuddin noted that Muslims still relied on Western scientists who practice systematic and diligent approaches, which have allowed them to progress further.

"Actually, their achievements today are a continuation of the success of earlier Muslim scholars. Scholars like Ibn Sina were once a key reference in the field of medicine worldwide," he said.