EVER since the debate on human cloning technology became a hot discussion topic, many people have made a generalisation that all technologies are detrimental to mankind.
Technologies such as human cloning are potentially harmful and open to abuse which can then lead to destruction.
Likewise, nuclear technology could bring mankind to annihilation if utilised in weapons of mass destruction.
Nonetheless, to generalise that all technologies would bring about chaos and disaster is unfair.
For instance, while the cloning technology is regarded as unethical and unnatural by the majority of mankind if used to clone human beings, the same technology could be used to clone specific organs and is regarded as a viable alternative for saving lives.
As stated by the National Fatwa Council, human cloning is forbidden in Islam, but if the cloning technology is used for medical and research purposes, it is permissible.
From this, we can deduce that whether a particular technology is used wisely or abused or misused by man, depends entirely on the intention of the user.
Undoubtedly, technology — any technology for that matter — is open to abuse and misuse by mankind.
It is really not fair for us to blame technology when something goes awry as we ourselves are responsible in deciding how to utilise this technology.
Technology is a word derived from the Greek word tekhnologia, which means “systematic approach in doing something”.
This word has its roots in the Greek word tekhne which means arts or craft.
That is why technology, in particular modern technology, has a lot to do with designs.
It is inaccurate to simply say that technology is applied science. Instead technology should be looked at as technical means which mankind adopts to improve its surroundings as well as to control the natural world for mankind’s benefit.
While the word technology is often used hand-in-hand with the word science, the two should never be confused with one another.
Contrary to popular understanding, science is not just about theories and technology is not just about applications.
In truth, science is the study of the natural world in order to understand nature.
The Academic Press Dictionary of Science and Technology gives this meaning to the word science: “The systematic observation of natural events and conditions in order to discover facts about them and to formulate laws and principles based on these facts”.
In contrast, technology deals very much with things that man creates and designs.
The relationship between science and technology is that science contributes towards the understanding of how the world works and this further aids the technological designs that are needed so that mankind can improve the way in which they live.
In other words, science is “the understanding” while technology is “the doing”.
How technology is used very much depends on what sort of values that mankind has with them.
Often when it comes to values, people tend to say that there are “good values” and there are “bad values”.
This “duality” in our way of thinking exists because we like to view things in opposites.
It is as if we are saying that people can be inculcated with bad values, as they can be imbued with good values. But is this line of thinking accurate? To answer this question, let us look at two concepts of science as simple illustrations.
The first is the concept of heat, and the other is the concept of light. When we talk of heat, we refer to words such as “hot” and “cold”. When we talk of light, we refer to words such as “brightness” and “darkness”.
Looking at these two sets of words, one would easily say that they are opposites to one another, much like saying that good values is the opposite of bad values.
However, if we scrutinise this closely, we would find that this may not be the case as can be attested by science.
We can measure heat but we cannot measure cold. This is because cold is not the opposite of hot, rather coldness is a result of the lack of heat.
Likewise, we can measure brightness, but we cannot measure darkness. Again this is because scientifically, the two are not opposite to each other.
Instead, darkness is a condition where light is absent.
So, going back to good and bad values, it is the writer’s opinion that they are not opposites.
Bad values are actually the result of lack of good values in one’s self.
In essence, good values could indeed be indoctrinated. On the other hand, the so-called “bad values” are actually a result of the failure to inculcate good values.
Hence when we talk about the usage of technology, it is important to remember that the abuse and misuse of technology is actually the result on our part to inculcate good values within us.
These values would serve as a spiritual wall within ourselves that has the potential to sway us from abusing and misusing technology.
If anyone abuses and misuses technologies, it is because they do not have the proper values within themselves.
Therefore, it is important that awareness on the proper values vis-avis the usage of technology is inculcated from a very young age.
Knowledge on the usage of technologies coupled with proper values would thus ensure technologies from being abused and misused.
As mentioned earlier, technology refers to the technical means in which mankind adopts to improve their surroundings as well as to control the natural world for the benefit of mankind.
This is mentioned in various verses in the Quran. For example, in verse 21 of Surah al-Mukminun, God says to the effect that: “And in cattle too, you have an instructive example; from within their bodies we produce milk for you to drink; there are, in them, besides numerous other benefits for you; and of their meat you eat”.
Without technology, it is impossible for mankind to make use and develop these resources provided by God for the betterment of our lives.
Having said that however, it must be remembered that technology must be utilised with great care and responsibility.
This could only be done with the indoctrination of good values as prescribed by religion.
In verse 41 of Surah al-Rum, God issues the following reminder: “Mischief has appeared on land and sea because of (the need) that the hands of men have earned, that (God) may give them a taste of some of their deeds: in order that they may turn back (from Evil)”.
It is not the technology that is bad, rather it is the lack of akhlak (good characteristics) on the part of the user that will lead to problems and consequently destruction if left unchecked.
Whenever Muslims come across situations pertaining to the use of technologies — in particular new and unfamiliar technologies — it is imperative that we ensure that we are equipped with the necessary knowledge and values which must be in line with Islam.
Only when this is done, would we have the necessary know-how in order to tackle situations arising from new technologies. The human cloning technology is perhaps just the tip of the iceberg with respect to what to expect in the coming years.
Indeed, with rapid advancement being made in all areas of technology, we need to prepare ourselves so as not to be taken off guard.