Journal - International Society for the History of Islamic Medicine

HISTORY OF GENETICS IN ISLAM: ABOUT COLOUR,
STATURE AND CAMELS
This means:
“For every Illness Allah created, Allah also created
a cure” Narrated by Bukharry (4).
The interest in medicine was reportedly further
asserted by renowned scholars of Islam, such as
Imam Muhammad bin Idriss Asshafi^i, Imam of the
Shafi^i school of Jurisprudence and Imam Ahmad
ArRifa^i (d 578 Hijri), Imam of the Rifa^i Sufi discipline.
Imam Mohammad bin Idriss Shafi^i, said to be
the scholar of Quraish mentioned in a Hadeeth that
was narrated about the Messenger of Allah, peace be
upon him,:
meaning:
“The scholar of Quraish fills the world with
knowledge”. Related by Imam Ahmad and others in
different versions (5).
Imam Asshafi^i was born in Gazza in 150 H and
died and was buried in Cairo in 204 H. He was
reported to have empasised the importance of medical
sciences, calling medicine, which is a communal
obligation, the most honoured second to the knowledge
of At-Tawheed and other similar obligatory
Islamic sciences.
JISHIM 2004, 3
Haitham IDRISS
Whilst recently lecturing on Human Molecular
Genetics in London, it occurred to me to look at the
awareness of genetics during the time of Prophet
Muhammad, peace be upon him. Molecular genetics
is a science that addresses the mechanisms of passing
traits between generations. It is useful for understanding
many diseases that are classified as hereditary
as well as for helping establish lineages and
other matters. Advances in modern genetics was possible
due to the discovery of cell divisions, chromosomes,
DNA, chromosomal recombination, linkage
and other significant molecular genetics mechanisms
and other biological phenomena. I wondered when
were Muslims of the Umma of Muhammad, peace be
upon him, possibly became first aware of the science
of genetics. During my research I came across two
narrations of the messenger of Allah, peace be upon
him that indicated to me his knowledge of this science.
The two hadeeths mentioned certain traits
(colour) in Arabian Camels and stature in humans.
Allah (Subhanahu wa ta^ala) said in the Qura’an:
In this verse of the Qura’an Allah, Subhanahu wa
ta^ala, is telling us to look at how camels are born
and use that as an example to strengthen our belief in
His power.
The first prophetic narration in Sahih ul Bukharry,
was narrated by Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased
with them:
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