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Introduction to the Field of Islamic Bioethics

An Introduction to the Field of Islamic Bioethics

This self-paced, intensive course introduces learners to:

Critical concepts in Islamic theology and law that undergird normative ethical frameworks.
Scholarly discussions regarding the methods, content and scope of an Islamic bioethics.
Extant normative rulings and discursive products of applied Islamic bioethics related to end-of-life care, organ donation, and reproductive health.

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 and closed on December 31st.

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.

Learning objectives

What you'll learn

Module 1: Introduction and Course Overview.
Module 2: Research Methods outputs & producers' role in Islamic Bioethics.
Module 3: Introduction to Islamic Moral epistemology.
Module 4: Islamic Law & Bioethics.
Module 5 Character Development & Islamic Bioethics.
Module 6: Contestations over stakeholders' role in Islamic bioethical discourse.
Module 7: Islamic Bioethics of Brain Death & End-of-Life Healthcare Ethics.
Module 8: Islamic Bioethics of Organs Donation and Transplantation.
Module 9: Islamic Bioethics of Abortion & Human Reproduction.
Module 10: Islamic Bioethics Review.

Who this course is for

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.

bioethics

Instructor

Aasim I. Padela, MD, MSc, FACEP
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.

Salman Jafri
I felt the course to be valuable and long overdue, meaning, American Muslim physicians have much work to do in furthering conversations about Islam and medicine. It is both motivating and inspiring to see Dr. Padela's work continue this way. I look forward to future output from him and would recommend colleagues to check out the work of II&M.
Jaye Starr Boz
I'm really grateful for the opportunity to take this class. It offered lots of helpful content and valuable learning experiences, Alhamdulillah.
Almas Sheikh
Thank you for a very educational and informative course. It has been enlightening to read through the materials as an introduction to the topics of Islamic bioethics. The format is easily accessible, and the ability to complete it at my own pace has been very useful.

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