Biosafety From The Maqāṣid Sharī’ah Views

Abstract

Most Maqāṣid Sharī’ahdiscussions on biosafety focus on the bioethical issues also on the usage and consumption of genetically modified organisms (GMO), this paper analyses the key biosafety issues namely the scientific and socio-economic issues in regulating biosafety with Maqāṣid Sharī’ah as a background. Recent studies in the field of Maqāṣid Sharī’ah added another higher intention of Sharī’ah which is the preservation of the environment. The discussion of the scientific aspect of biosafety examines the benefits and side effects of modern biotechnology, assessed by risk assessment and management. The socio-economic issues analyse the issues of socio-economic, religious, cultural, moral, and ethical issues. This study aims to examine the issues in biosafety and align them withthe six Maqāṣid Sharī’ah aims namely the protection of property, life, religion, intellect, lineage, and environment. As this is purely doctrinal research based on the primary and secondary sources of laws and regulations, this discussed the basic understanding of the legal regulation of biosafety for better biosafety governance. This study further elaborates on the Islamic Maqāṣid Sharī’ah’s view in which the discussion contributes to the body of knowledge in biosafety. The finding concludes that there is an interlinking between biosafety and Maqāṣid Sharī’ah if it does not extend beyond the allowed Islamic principles. This study suggests Maqāṣid Sharī’ah guidelines be included as part of socioeconomic considerations in regulating biosafety.