Cyborgs and Islam

[gengis]

I was thinking about this earlier today and thought i would bring this up.

I love the idea of cyborgs. I always thought about it when i was a kid and how much I would love to have implants of some sort. I still think about this these days but I something hit me. Would it be halal?

Now before you answer this question as Halal or Haraam. Dont. Saying something is halal or haraam when it is vice versa is extremely dangerous. I am just curious as to what peoples opinion is as we are not allowed to damage our bodies, but what if we are improving it?

Not in a beautification sort of way, but more so in the sense that we could have "addons", an extra arm to do more things, a chip to improve memory, a robotic leg that would enable us to run quicker.

The ability to become hafiz through an implant?

Discuss!

[thulfiqaar]

If it improves without harming, I don't think it would be a problem, I know I would love to hehe, but then what if the same thing would happen as that happened in Deus Ex!?

[ashes999]

Derp.

The answer of Umar ibn Al-Khattab to a similar question was: can you buy cyborg implants? No? Come back when you can, and I will gather the people who attended Badr to figure out your fatwa.

As Allah says in Juz 'Amma, "la qad khalaqnaa al-insaana fiy ahsani at-taqweem," meaning "We created humans in the best form. No cyborg body parts. No infra-red seeing eyes. No wings. No four arms. But, through his wisdom, subhannahu wa ta'ala, our creator, optimized and picked the best design for us.

Imam Ash-Shafi'ee (I believe) was once approached by a man who said, "I told my wife I would divorce her if she is not more beautiful than the moon." Moron. So is she? What did he say? He used the ayah above to prove that the man was not divorced.

Ask anybody with leg implants, knee replacements, hip replacements, etc. -- it's extra pain and misery for the rest of your life, and it only serves as a shadow of the biological equivalent. Cyborgism may have advantages (skin won't burn -- no skin), but overall, it is NOT the best creation.

There is also an ayah that severely rebukes people who "change the creation of Allah," so check yourself before you mess yourself.

Wallahu a'lam.

[thulfiqaar]

Ask anybody with leg implants, knee replacements, hip replacements, etc. -- it's extra pain and misery for the rest of your life, and it only serves as a shadow of the biological equivalent.

Are you saying that people who need leg implants and knee replacement because their original biological one is "damaged" shouldn't be allowed to get it?

[ashes999]

thulfiqaar I am saying that people who suffered through replacement surgery (as some of my relatives have) will tell you how painful it is afterward, and how ... insufficient. Lacking. Inferior. it is, to the original, working, biological one that they had.

Whether it's a pacemaker or a replacement hip, the experience is similar.

Therefore, I assume that cyborg hardware would be similar. Better in some ways, worse in some ways, than bio parts.

Who else wants to play Syndicate now? :(

[thulfiqaar]

oh yeah Syndicate is another one :D

[Fadi]

Outside of medical purposes as a process of replacing irreparable damage, cyborgs are a very slippery slope.

I don't think humans could collectively handle the potential consequences. In my opinion it would the day we begin modifying humans to be better then others, whether genetically or by augmentation, is the day when our species jumps the shark. There are too many people without faith or any sort of ideals that are motivated purely by greed, as a society we would be further split into the powerful and the weak. Look at the clashes in the X-Men series or in Ghost in the Shell.

Look at the Borg.

They were once a humanoid species called the Caeliar. The pursuit of creating cyborgs ruined them, their way of life... they lost their consciousness in the pursuit of augmenting their "flawed and weak" bodies made of flesh. They lost the belief in any ideals to the pursuit of raw power.

Adam (as) during his creation had his consciousness awakened by the breath of Allah (swt). The Borg essentially ripped out that awakened consciousness and love/fear of Allah (swt) in exchange for a hivemind that only wishes to pursue the assimilation of all organic species for power.

Believe me, I do love sci-fi and the potential of cyborgs and genetic engineering. It's exciting to think what humans are capable of.... one has to only take a second to think about the reality however, to think of what humans are capable of, which is frightening.

[KoubaDZ]

Spot on Fadi, anything associated with humans would typically be expected to turn into a huge mess somewhere along the line. Greed, power, intelligence, domination... ufffff I can see it now.

[ashes999]

This would make a GREAT (and controversial, which is also great) possibly Islamic sci-fi game.

I can see it now.

"In a bleak future, the rich and powerful use cyborg augmentation to oppress the weak...

"You, a mere Muslim worshipper, must now restore the balance of power and restore morality to the world."

Genius. Pure, sweet genius. +1 Fadi

[thulfiqaar]

This would make a GREAT (and controversial, which is also great) possibly Islamic sci-fi game.

I can see it now.

"In a bleak future, the rich and powerful use cyborg augmentation to oppress the weak...

"You, a mere Muslim worshipper, must now restore the balance of power and restore morality to the world."

Genius. Pure, sweet genius. +1 Fadi

You just described Deus Ex but minus the muslim part.

[Asad3ainJalout]

As Fadi said.

The Borg. End of story.

[Rizwan1]

As with all technology in the world, it will get exploited. I would have loved to live in an age where things were simpler: we are all screen slaves!!!
Open your eyes!!!

[thulfiqaar]

Speak for yourself, I'm happy with my screen :P

[Rizwan1]

Speak for yourself, I'm happy with my screen :P

I fear that the illuminati and their brainwashing tactics have already got to thulfiqaar. Everyone: Save yourself before they get to you.

[gengis]

I agree that it is a slippery slope, it would definitely get abused by some\many. The thing is im 99% sure that the reseacrh is already being done if not already done.

While I love the idea of cyborgs, as you are aware, my privacy and conspiracy concerns would go into overdrive. The ability for governments to get access to information stores, GPS location trackers, back door over rides etc.

Putting all that aside and going to what ashes said, I completely agree with you in that you cant improve what Allah has created. I probably chose the wrong words (as usual) when laying the example down.

What if I could implant a hard drive\cpu that would enable me to get photographic memory, store all of the hadeeth and Quran and be able to recall and quote anything when required?

What if that RFID tag could open my car door for me and start the car as I got close?
What if it could open my front door and adjust the temperature for me then turn the kettle on in the mornings and after work?

As these are benefiting me could they still be wrong?