BIOETHISLx: Islamic Bioethics (EdX)

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course provides an introductory, accessible yet in-depth overview of the emerging and promising field of Islamic Bioethics. Developed in alignment with the EdX course “Islamic Bioethics” offered by Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKUx) and taught by Dr. Mohammed Ghaly, Professor of Islam and Biomedical Ethics, this course explores how the rich Islamic moral tradition engages with the complex questions triggered by cutting-edge biomedical advancements. Students will examine the internal dynamics and methodological aspects of Islamic Bioethics and how they result in concrete moral positions. Key topics include the classical and contemporary frameworks of Islamic bioethics, the beginning and end of human life, abortion, human milk banks, Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), palliative care, brain death, euthanasia, organ donation, pandemics such as COVID-19, and genetic interventions. The course emphasizes understanding the diversity within the Islamic discourse and showing how disciplines from inside and outside the Islamic tradition contribute to and shape the field. This course is tailored for healthcare professionals and academic researchers with interests in ethics, bioethics, religious studies, intercultural studies, Islamic studies, and social sciences.

COURSE TEACHING OBJECTIVES

1. Analyze the foundational sources, methodological frameworks, and classical approaches of Islamic bioethics, including the Quran, Sunna, Maqasid al-Shariah, Ijtihad, and Fatwa.
2. Evaluate how contemporary Islamic bioethical deliberations engage with modern biomedical advancements and how diverse positions are developed and defended.
3. Assess Islamic ethical perspectives on the beginning of human life, including abortion, Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), and human milk banks.
4. Critically examine Islamic bioethical positions on the end of life, including brain death, palliative care, euthanasia, and organ donation.
5. Synthesize Islamic bioethical principles to analyze emerging biomedical challenges, including genetic engineering, pandemics, and AI-driven healthcare.

COURSE STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Articulate the core concepts, sources, and methods of Islamic bioethics and distinguish them from Western biomedical ethics.
2. Apply the Maqasid al-Shariah framework and principles of Islamic jurisprudence to analyze bioethical dilemmas.
3. Compare diverse positions within the Islamic discourse on beginning-of-life and end-of-life issues.
4. Critically evaluate the compatibility of Islamic bioethical positions with modern biomedical sciences and international ethical standards.
5. Analyze contemporary bioethical challenges, including genetic engineering, organ donation, and pandemic response, from an Islamic perspective.
6. Engage constructively with the diversity of Islamic moral reasoning and its interaction with secular and other religious bioethical traditions.

ORGANIZATION OF COURSE STUDIES