FIMA Year Book 2009 - Federation of Islamic Medical Associations

Ethical Issuesnobody can positively predict hisbehavior towards certain situationsin a scientific manner. Tests onhumans are not always reproducible.However, if the human behavior isstrictly guided by the principles laiddown in the divine source, then itbecomes predictable. The Muslimshould not, therefore, receive hiscodes of behavior or the ethics of hissociety from non-Islamic sources (12)Allah says; “Therefore shun thosewho turn away from our Messageand desire nothing but the life of thisWorld. That is as far as knowledgewill reach them. Verily thy Lordknoweth best those who stray fromHis path, and He knoweth best thosewho receive guidance.” (13) . It is theresponsibility of a Muslim to seekthe correct way of life and to rightlyguide others to the righteous wayof life: “Ye are the best of peoples,evolved for mankind, enjoining whatis right and forbidding what is wrong,and believing in Allah.” (14) . There isgreat reward of acquiring knowledgeand graded very high in the verses ofQur’an:“Allah will exalt in degree those of youwho believe, and those who have beengranted knowledge. And Allah is Well-Acquainted with what you do”. (15)Medical education combines these twogroups of knowledge; applied sciencesand humanities Its application is onhumans by humans whose behaviorhas to be guided by the divine source.Therefore a Muslim doctor needs to bedifferent from a non-Muslim doctor(not by appearance alone but by virtuesand deeds). He must be fully aware ofhis obligations both to the patient andto Allah. The process of raising such adoctor is long and tedious. (16)Medical ethics is one of the importantsubjects stressed in modern eramedical education. However it is by nomeans the Islamic ethics. Islamic ethicsis far more superior than the “medicalethics” as it protects both doctor andthe patient not only from the sins ofworldly standards but those of divinestandards too. A medical school thatclaims to be a pioneer of Islamic ethicalvalues must observe certain standardsright from the beginning. Theeducational contents and the deliverysystem should be designed accordingto the divine guidance and must reflectthe requirements of the society at large.Acquiring medical Knowledge,dispersing it and practicing medicineremain an integral part of the Muslimsociety.Imam Al-Shafei said: “I know nonobler science than medicine exceptthe sciences of religion”.Medical education remained anessential part of learning and teachingin the Muslim society from its veryearly days. Medical education, despitebeing a specialty, is but one fiber in awhole mesh founded on the belief inAllah, His oneness and absolute ability,and that He alone is the Creator andGiver of life, knowledge, cure fromailments, death, this world and thehereafter. In planning the making ofa medical doctor, a prime goal is toFIMA YearBook 200986