Islamic Legal Perspectives on Genetically Modified Food

Abstract

Genetically modified food (GMF) is part of our reality as consumers worldwide. The techniques and possibilities involved require an Islamic legal (fiqhi) study in order to determine the assumptions underlying its consumption, production, and related research. This paper places the study of GMF within a holistic context by taking into consideration the societal background and rationale within which it has been developed. It investigates the possibility of transferring such fiqhi devices as istihalah (chemical transformation), istihlak (extreme dilution), and others to GMF in regard to combining genetic material from permissible and non-permissible sources; raises several questions and concerns about using the maqasidi scheme; and discusses GMF’s permissibility under the aspects of changing creation or “harnessing nature.”