An Introduction to the Field of Islamic Bioethics
This self-paced, intensive course introduces learners to:
10 modules
2–4 hours per module
Self-paced
Progress at your own speed
Digital Certificate
The course started on July 1st and closed on December 31st.
The course started on July 1st, 2024 and closed on December 31st, 2024.
About this Course
An Introduction to the field of Islamic Bioethics
Islamic bioethics, as a subject of scholarly inquiry and as a repository of guidance, remains a field-in-formation for its content, scope and methodology are subject to debate. Ambiguities regarding the contours of an Islamic bioethics do not stem from the lack of a moral theology outlined by scripture, nor from a dearth of ethico-legal judgments about biomedicine formulated by Islamic jurists. Rather, the contemporary challenge is to devise bioethical frameworks that are both rooted in Islamic theology and law, yet are fully informed, and thus practically address, the needs of patients, clinicians, religious advisors, and policymakers.
The challenges for “Islamic” bioethics are made more profound by the fact that notions about moral norms, the good, and the ethical are scattered across different Islamic sciences including moral theology (uṣūl al-fiqh), scholastic theology (ʿilm al-kalām), jurisprudence and law (fiqh), as well as within various genres and practices related to moral formation and spiritual development (taṣawwuf and adab). The multidisciplinary nature of bioethical inquiry also leads to a crisis of epistemology and legitimacy; it is not clear how much weight should be accorded to the reality on the ground (what is) when considering the moral ordering of society (what should be) as well as which register of contemporary bioethical discourse (clinical, political, societal) Islamic bioethics should attend to.
Consequently, this self-paced, intensive course introduces learners to
(i) critical concepts in Islamic theology and law that undergird normative ethical frameworks,
(ii) scholarly discussions regarding the methods, content and scope of an Islamic bioethics, and
(iii) extant normative rulings and discursive products of applied Islamic bioethics related to end-of-life care, organ donation, and reproductive health.
- Describe the sources of Islamic morality
- Identify the producers, consumers and the discursive material of Islamic bioethics
- Describe the contentions around what constitutes the "Islamic" in Islamic bioethics
- Apply critical analysis skills to decipher gaps in the Islamic bioethics discourse
- Delineate the major Islamic juridical views on end-of-life healthcare, organ donation, and reproductive health
What you'll learn
Who this course is for
- 1. Physicians and allied healthcare practitioners
- 2. Medical students and trainees
- 3. Chaplains and religious leaders
- 4. Bioethicists
- 5. Others interested in the intersection of religious ethics and healthcare
At a glance
Institution: Initiative on Islam and Medicine
Subject: Introduction to field of Islamic bioethics
Level: Introductory
Prerequisites: None (This is an introductory course)
Language: English
Language: English
Self paced
Progress through the course at your own pace within the 6 month cohort
Shareable Certificate
Earn a Certificate upon completion
100% online
Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.
In Collaboration with: Al Balagh Academy
The self-paced delivery was facilitated through the digital learning platform of Al Balagh Academy, enabling seamless global access for participants.
25 credits
Islamic Medical Association of North America (IMANA) is accredited by the
Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to
provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Islamic Medical Association of North America (IMANA) designates this enduring
material for a maximum of 25 AMA PRA Category 1
Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit
commensurate with the extent of their participation in the
activity.
Islamic Medical Association of North America (IMANA) designates this activity
for up to 16.5 hours of participation for continuing
education for allied health professionals.
ACCME Accreditation:
Islamic Medical Association of North America (IMANA) is accredited by the
Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to
provide continuing medical education for physicians.
AMA Credit Designation:
Islamic Medical Association of North America (IMANA) designates this enduring
material for a maximum of 25 AMA PRA Category 1
Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit
commensurate with the extent of their participation in the
activity.
Hours of Participation for Allied Health Care Professionals:
Islamic Medical Association of North America (IMANA) designates this activity
for up to 16.5 hours of participation for continuing
education for allied health professionals.
Instructor
Founder, Initiative on Islam and Medicine
Dr. Aasim I. Padela is a physician-scholar whose work sits at the intersection of medicine, bioethics, Islamic theology, public health, and Muslim community engagement. He has led major educational and research initiatives exploring the relationship between Islam, biomedicine, and the health sciences.
Through his scholarship and educational programming, Dr. Padela has helped develop resources that support students, educators, clinicians, and communities in engaging complex questions about science, ethics, religion, and human life.
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course for your team or
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Islamic Bioethics
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