Noor Naemah Abdul Rahman

The Concept of Qailulah (Midday Napping) from Neuroscientific and Islamic Perspectives

Abstract Napping/siesta during the day is a phenomenon, which is widely practised in the world. However, the timing, frequency, and duration may vary. The basis of napping is also diverse, but it is mainly done for improvement in alertness and general well-being. Neuroscience reveals that midday napping improves memory, enhances alertness, boosts wakefulness and performance, and recovers certain qualities of lost night sleep. Interestingly, Islam, the religion of the Muslims, advocates midday napping primarily because it was a practice preferred by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). The objectives of this review were to investigate and compare identical key points on focused topic from both neuroscientific and Islamic perspectives and make recommendations for future researches.

History, problems, and prospects of Islamic insurance (Takaful) in Bangladesh

This study explains the history, current problems, and future possibilities of Islamic insurance (takaful) in Bangladesh. To articulate these issues, the researcher has adopted the qualitative method, and data has been collected through secondary sources i.e. articles, books, and online resources. The study reveals that Islamic insurance in Bangladesh is regulated by the Insurance Act 2010 which is contradictory with Islamic insurance causing numerous problems for Islamic insurance. This study also points out that Islamic insurance is a fast growing industry with huge prospects in Bangladesh. The government should introduce separate regulations for both Islamic and conventional insurance. The research concludes with suggestions for the further development of Islamic insurance in Bangladesh.

Advances in Tri-parent Baby Technology: The Bioethical Challenge for Muslims

Preservation of progeny or lineage is one of the elements of maqasid al-sharī‘ah (higher objectives of Islamic law). Islam is very particular in matters pertaining to the health of newborns. Consequently, issues concerning female fertility and newborn defects caused by genetic diseases are discussed by Muslim scholars. These two health issues are caused by various factors including defects in reproductive organs and genetic problems inherited from the maternal or paternal side or even caused by mutations such as defective mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Assisted reproductive technology (ART) is a medical treatment developed to overcome fertility problems. Recently, this field developed an ART-based defective mitochondrial treatment therapy known as tri-parent baby technology (TPBT). The technology currently being studied involves two types of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) technique: pronuclear transfer (PNT) and maternal spindle transfer (MST). This TPBT could be of great benefit to mankind, including Muslims. However, for Muslims, this technology raises various issues including questions of ethics, morality and parental status. This article presents a brief background of the TPBT as well as challenges for Muslims arising from it. Initial feedback from an Islamic jurisprudential viewpoint is provided by highlighting and analysing scientists’ and current Islamic scholars’ research and insights on this issue.

Maqasid al-Shariah as a Complementary Framework for Conventional Bioethics: Application in Malaysian Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Fatwa

Rapid development in the area of assisted reproductive technology (ART), has benefited mankind by addressing reproductive problems. However, the emergence of new technologies and techniques raises various issues and discussions among physicians and the masses, especially on issues related to bioethics. Apart from solutions provided using conventional bioethics framework, solutions can also be derived via a complementary framework of bioethics based on the Higher Objectives of the Divine Law (Maqasid al-Shariah) in tackling these problems. This approach in the Islamic World has been applied and localised in the Malaysian context. Thus, this paper highlights a conceptual theoretical framework for solving current bioethical issues, with a special focus on ART in the Malaysian context, and compares this theory with conventional theories of bioethics.

Islamic Considerations on the Application of Patient’s Autonomy in End-of-Life Decision

In end-of-life situation, the need for patient’s preference comes into the picture with the intention of guiding physicians in the direction of patient care. Preference in medical directive is made by a person with full mental capacity outlining what actions should be taken for his health should he loses his competency. This is based on the reality of universal paradigm in medical practice that emphasises patient’s autonomy. A specific directive is produced according to a patient’s wish that might include some ethically and religiously controversial directives such as mercy killing, physician-assisted suicide, forgoing life-supporting treatments and do-not-resuscitate. In the future, patient autonomy is expected to become prevalent. The extent of patient autonomy has not been widely discussed among Muslim scholars. In Islam, there are certain considerations that must be adhered to.

Senile Dementia from Neuroscientific and Islamic Perspectives

Diseases involving the nervous system drastically change lives of victims and commonly increase dependency on others. This paper focuses on senile dementia from both the neuroscientific and Islamic perspectives, with special emphasis on the integration of ideas between the two different disciplines. This would enable effective implementation of strategies to address issues involving this disease across different cultures, especially among the world-wide Muslim communities. In addition, certain incongruence ideas on similar issues can be understood better. The former perspective is molded according to conventional modern science, while the latter on the analysis of various texts including the holy Qur’an, sunnah [sayings and actions of the Islamic prophet, Muhammad (pbuh)] and writings of Islamic scholars. Emphasis is particularly given on causes, symptoms, treatments and prevention of dementia.

Tri-parent Baby Technology and Preservation of Lineage: An Analysis from the Perspective of Maqasid al - Shari’ah Based Islamic Bioethics

Tri-parent baby technology is an assisted reproductive treatment which aims to minimize or eliminate maternal inheritance of mutated mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). The technology became popular following the move by the United Kingdom in granting license to a group of researchers from the Newcastle Fertility Centre, Newcastle University to conduct research on the symptoms of defective mtDNA. This technology differs from other assisted reproductive technology because it involves the use of gamete components retrieved from three different individuals. Indirectly, it affects the preservation of lineage which is important from an Islamic point of view. This paper aims to analyze and discuss the implications of the tri-parent technology on preservation of lineage from the perspective of Maqasid al-Shari’ah based the Islamic bioethics. The analysis shows that there are a few violations of the preservation of lineage, hence the tri-parent baby technology should not be permitted.

The right of women in property sharing in Bangladesh: Can the islamic inheritance system eliminate discrimination?

This study seeks to discover the best solution for women’s property sharing between Islamic and current social practices in Bangladesh. A qualitative method has been adopted to achieve this goal. It is found that the majority of the women are marginalised from their property in the social practice. On the other hand, in the Islamic solution, the property is fixed for all classes of women and is based on a property sharing system called fara’id that takes into account the roles and responsibilities of man and woman in the society. Men are responsible for providing maintenance to their wives and children. Men in Islamic society should bear expenditure related to marriage. The research concludes that the Islamic solution is fair and ensures just property sharing rights for women. It suggests that the Islamic solution for property sharing should be implemented to empower women in Bangladesh.

Green Energy towards Sustainability from the Islamic Perspective

Sustainable development is a concept mooted to ensure that the needs of the present are met without compromising the needs of the future. Islam has outlined a number of concepts for ensuring that the environment is managed in a responsible and sustainable manner. These concepts are wisdom (hikmah), justice (‘adl), public interest (maslahah) and innovation (ijtihad). The framework of higher purposes of Islamic Divine law or maqasid al-shariah also provides guidance by highlighting five objectives (viz. faith, life, intellect, progeny and property) that need to be protected in carrying out development. However, the challenge lies in putting these concepts and approaches into practice. While there is a good theoretical understanding of these Islamic concepts and approaches, the reality is that many still do not practice what they know in their individual daily lives as well as in policy formulation. Environmental issues including green energy production should not be dismissed simply as a worldly affair. As such, it is imperative for Muslims to not only be aware of these issues, but also to put sustainability into practice in order to achieve the “good life” concept or hayattayibbah.

Pemindahan Organ Reproduktif daripada Perspektif Fatwa Semasa

Perkembangan teknologi perubatan pada hari ini telah memberikan sinar kepada pelbagai penyakit yang sukar untuk dirawat. Dalam rawatan kesuburan misalnya, teknologi terkini sudah mampu menawarkan pelbagai jenis pembedahan seperti pembedahan organ reproduktif. Penulisan ini akan membincangkan tentang jenis pemindahan organ reproduktif dan hukum-hukumnya dengan melihat kepada fatwa-fatwa yang telah diberikan oleh ulama’ kontemporari dan badan fatwa berautoriti di seluruh dunia. Terdapat dua jenis organ reproduktif, iaitu organ yang memindahkan maklumat genetik seperti testis dan ovari, dan organ yang tidak membawa sebarang maklumat genetik seperti rahim, tiub fallopio, faraj dan zakar. Majoriti ulama’ mengharamkan pemindahan dari jenis pertama kerana ia termasuk di bawah hukum mengubah ciptaan Allah swt yang dilarang olehNya, di samping larangan Nabi saw dari melakukan amalan mengkasi. Manakala pemindahan dari jenis kedua, majoriti mereka mengharuskannya dalam keadaan darurah dengan pengecualian ‘aurat mughallazah, iaitu faraj dan zakar dengan alasan ia tidak melibatkan sebarang pemindahan genetik. Kata kunci: Pembedahan, organ reproduktif, mengubah ciptaan