Introduction
Currently, medical technology advancement has contributed to the development of new drugs for treating serious illness such as cancer. Apart from a cure, it has also created many problems in the health sector. Medical practitioners performing this kind of illegal act on patients do re-establish a secret between him and the client. One major factor that determines a society’s opinion on euthanasia is religion. Different Islamic countries have a separate view on termination of a patient’s life. The first team entails counties controlled by Islamic rules only; they accept Sharia as their legal and administrative leader such as Saudi Arabia and Iran. The second group contains countries governed by states, but their laws are made based on Sharia such as Algeria and Egypt (Nikookar and Sooteh, 2014).
Thesis Statement
Examination of a thesis statement is to discuss different lines of argument used for and against euthanasia by various Islamic states. In this study, thesis helps in building content and sources used in restructuring euthanasia by scholars in Islamic Medical Ethics. We will discuss the Sunni Islamic perspective on murder and its contribution in Islam Medical Culture. A conclusion to the study will give a solution solving euthanasia practices among some doctors and their point of consideration in the act. Finally, thesis gives a wider debate not only to the physicians but also the civilians in formulating new ways for treating their patients in a legalized manner accepted by law.
Islamic view on Euthanasia
According to Islam bringing an end to a person’s life causes pain and suffering to the family. Viewpoints were specifically collected on modern Western Muslim and non-Muslims. Islam views euthanasia under their Qur’an rules. The killing of an innocent life according to Islam is prohibited as per Islamic Code of Ethics (ICME) which declines the mercy killing but requests the physicians to look for alternative means for use in treating the patient. Islam code of medical ethics states that life is a process and despite severe illness by a patient, the doctor should aim at maintaining and treating the disease rather than killing the person (BBC 2012). With regards to Islam Koran teachings, life should not be terminated by either passive or active voluntary mercy killing. Scholars in Islam argues that active euthanasia is ‘Hiram’ meaning illegal and the argument between Sunni and Shiite Schools on euthanasia is equal (Narimisa 2014).
In addition, various Islam procedures to mercy killings were identified, and all of them deployed a similar purpose. It includes different data methods of debate used to create separate Islamic point of view in murder. First, academic learning of sources such as Qur’an, the Hadith and scholarly writing pleading with some religious rules on life termination. Hadith and Quran rules had reforms on death penalties instead of one passing away under unclear situations. It can also be argued that different methodological strategies were used to have a standard answer that relates to the traditional Islamic view on euthanasia.
Verse 4:29 in the Qur’an refers to Muslims killing fellow Muslims, and this was seen to same as killing yourself. As the author explained, this verse gives a warning to the civilians who kills themselves mercilessly with no apparent reason further they will receive an eternal punishment from Allah in heaven as Hadith version explained. On the other hand, if a person commits a suicidal crime and survives or rescued he will receive community disrespect, public ignorance and criticizing his negative act for murder.
Muslims further argued that escaping suicide is easy while one is still here on earth due to severe struggling and suffering but one should always get better ways in controlling the matter to avoid punishment accompanied by the misconduct in future. A citizen can overcome worldly sufferings through support from Allah’s mercy. In most cases, Islam data collected can be used to support killing from a modern point of view despite the religion being against the practice. It is only meant in ending the hardships and sufferings of the client, and the people affected most are the minority citizens living in the state (Motlani 2011).
Recently a popular Egyptian scholar by the name Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi issued a ‘Fatwa report’, a religious ruling from indicating that the easy death is murder but a patient can endure treatment in which doctors saw no meaning in it. Reason being that some of the illness are highly contagious and has no cure. Instead, they will prefer the good death for him to avoid future burdens on family members. It will be carried out with the consent of the immediate relatives to do so, and the action kept secret amongst them as it is illegal and punishable by law.
Ethical Perspective
Two articles known as the Islamic Code for Medical and health Ethics were formulated to the two parties involved patient and physician. Article sixty-one that states human life is divine trust and need not to be terminated by anyone unless he breaks the law and action will be taken upon him as reported by Sharia and the Koran law. The doctor should encourage the patient to remain calm and patient as he will heal shortly rather than terminating his life. Article sixty-one further has three major case studies one, medical practitioner helping in the mercy killing, two, murdering of a patient who wants his life cut short and the murder of innocent infants with disabilities at the time of birth.
In article sixty-two, a cover attached to it has three sections. First, refusing to continue with a particular treatment that doesn’t show signs of improvement.Second, dropping the medication after verification by the Medical Committee considering it worthless. Finally an agreement by the administration to stop the client from more pain bearing in mind that the drug to be administered to this patient will automatically end his life (Aramesh and Shadi 2007).
Islam values human life and does not advocate or euthanasia. The Holy Quran states that “whoever kills and the innocent person it is as though he has killed all mankind and whoever saves a life is as though he has saved all mankind” (Quran 5:32). Islam religion also teaches that it is only Allah, who gives and takes life. Islam strongly condemns the taking of one's life and this is stated in a verse in the Quran, which states that “do not take your life verily Allah is to you most merciful.” Human life is considered to be sacred in Islam teachings say that a person should take human life which Allah has made sacred save with right.
Even in times of pain and agony, one should not despair since the creator does not tax any old beyond that which it can bear. It is only through the understanding of the Quran, and the teachings of the prophet that one can understand clearly the position of Islam on the importance of a person's life. In addition to he two, a fatwa(religious rulings ) given by Islamic scholars are also applied when it comes to handling Islamic matters.
“Do not take life which Allah has made sacred other than in the cause of justice. If anyone kills a person unless if it is for murder or spreading mischief in the land.it would be as if he had killed whole people”. No person can ever die except by Allah’s leave and at the appointed time”. Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, an Egyptian scholar, issued the fatwa. He equates euthanasia to murder. Lack of understanding of the teaching of Islam has led to the distortion of the Quran. People with their objective take the words and use them to their advantage. Delusion has made people turn on their brother killing them all in the name of Islam, which is wrong. Islam does not advocate for the killing of innocent people.
Law based on the Quran does not recognise person’s right to volunteer death. Islam does not support murder because life is sacred and murder and suicide are not reasons allowed for killing in Islam. The Holy Quran, Islamic findings(fatwa) and the great Muslim scholar rulings all state that it is haram is Islam for one to practice murder. The freedom to take life is Islam is not allowed due to the reason that the life itself does not belong to a human. The second one being that the society and family suffer when they lose a loved one.The Quran says that we all came from soil, and it is to soil that we shall return .
It is obligatory for human beings to protect themselves according to the teaching of Islam. They should not put themselves in harms way. The Quran says that a person should not throw themselves in danger with their hands. The Prophet also forbade people from engaging in acts of worship that will cause them harm. As a believer, one of his roles is to protect their soul and body from any form of injury.
One is considered not to be fulfilling their duty towards God is when they fail to protect their body and mind. The Laws according to Islam puts life together with the things that ought to be respected like property, religion, and generations. They should be protected in the same manner. It is contrary to his human psychology for one to wish death on themselves. Islam teaches that it I only Allah who knows the time of death “for every nation is an accurate term .so when the time has come they will not remain behind an hour nor will the preceded it.” Struggles a difficulties in a person life don’t give them the right to take their life or that of the other person.the Quran states that”do not kill yourselves”.it is said that it is only God who kills and revives the being.
In the case of a situation where there is no hope for a cure, the doctors can stop the process of prolonging life. As per the regulations of the Islamic Medical Association of America (Imana), when a person is terminally ill, and death is inevitable then the unnecessary procedure should not be done, and natural death should be allowed to take its cause. Use of certain painkillers to hasten death is not allowed as it is equated to murde. A physician should not actively participate in the termination of a patient's life.when a person has been declared brain dead, taking him off the machine is allowed after It has been made clear that the machines are of no use to him.
Doctors should be able to make decisions based on the well being of the patient first before anything else.It is both ethically and Morally wrong for decisions to be made based on the economic and personal gain of interests of people rather than the well being of the patient. Regardless of the position, the life of an individual is considered sacred until the time of death..
In conclusion, euthanasia is an irreversible medical act that creates depression before any physician accepts a request to terminate a patient’s life he should be ready to undergo a psychological stress. Islam believes that human life belongs to Allah alone, and no man is allowed to take it away as human life is sacred. Higher costs of medical treatments also make patients desperate later asking the physicians for termination of their lives while at the hospital. Based on Islam religion, murder in not allowed as it is considered a suicide action. Doctors need to design ways on how to treat depression in ill patients and to give them moral, social support with their families through governmental or non-governmental programs such as KEMRI/CDC and World Health Organization (WHO).
In the world today suicide is mistaken to be an Islamic act allowed in war. People tend to relate it to the Islamic teaching which is a not. Islamic strongly condemns the killing of innocents and does not support suicide as well as this is also considered to be part of killing.it is only Allah that gives life and only him who can take it. No one knows the time, place and manner in which they are going to die hat is a secret that only the creator knows. In light of this, it is wrong for a person to think that they have the right to take the life of an innocent person just because they are in a position to do so.
Protection of human life is also in the universal law. Islam allows death to take its natural cause and not be administered. A person can be in a state whereby nothing can be done for them medically.at this point he can be allowed to die in peace when his right time comes and should not be made to choose to end his life or family members to end life on his behalf. In case he is on machines and already medically dead then-then the devices can be removed and allocate to someone else whose is a dangerous condition as in need of the equipment. The position of Islam is clear and does not support murder.A person does not have the authority to take their life or that of the other person.
References
Aramesh K. and Shadi, H. (2007). Euthanasia: An Islamic Ethical Perspective. Web 2016. Retrieved from http://www.academia.edu/399232/Euthanasia_An_Islamic_Ethical_Perspective
BBC. Euthanasia Assisted Dying, Suicide and Medical Ethics. Web Aug 21, 2014. http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/islamethics/euthanasia.shtml
Ebrahim, A. M. (2007). Euthanasia. Islamic Perspective, 173-178.
Kaya, A. (2012). Euthanasia in Islamic law on the theory of protection integrity of body and soul. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 292-297.
Motlani R. R. (2011). Islam, Euthanasia, and Western Christianity: Drawing on Western Christian thinking to Develop an Expanded Western Sunni Muslim Perspective on Euthanasia. Web Aug 2011.Retrieved from https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/repository/bitstream/handle/10036/3480/MotlaniR.pdf?seq uence=2
Narimisa, M. (2014). Euthanasia in Islamic views. European Scientific Journal, 185-188.
Nikookar R. Hamid and Sooteh J.H Seyed. Euthanasia: An Islamic Ethical Perspective. Web Journal June 2014. Retrieved from: file///C:/Users/Mindflame/Downloads/3709-10863- 1-PB%20(1).pdf
The Holy Quran
