Cloning

Blade Runner Assignment
This subject is something that I always thought about, especially when the first case of cloning was made known to public. I am convinced that somewhere in this world scientists are currently trying to clone human beings. It is theoretically possible to create a human body by completing the chromosome number of a cell of an egg. In Islam, it says that a human has a soul, and that is what ultimately brings life to the body. The Quran details in several verses, how the growth of a fetus occurs going through the pre-embryonic state and the embryonic state. Modern embryology confirmed the stages described in the Quran which says: “[We=God] then formed the drop into a clot and formed the clot into a lump and formed the lump into bones and clothed the bones in flesh; and then brought him into being as another creature. Blessed be God, the Best of Creators! (Qur'an, 23:14).

    From the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who transmitted this Quran to mankind, we also learn that a human embryo receives a soul on the 120st day of its growth. God’s Messenger (peace be upon him ) said: “(As regards to your creation), every one of you is collected in the womb of his mother for the first 40 days, and then he becomes a clot for another 40 days, and then a piece of flesh for another 40 days. Then God (s.w.t) sends an angel to write 4 words: He writes his deeds, time of his death, means of his livelihood, and whether he will be wretched or blessed (in the Hereafter). Then the soul is breathed into his body…. (Bukhari, Vol 4, Hadith # 549 to the phenomenon of the Angel placing the soul in the fetus)
Therefore, as a Muslim, I have to consider someone a human being, once they passed through this stage, regardless how their being there came about.
What makes the human mind unique is the fact that we have a free will.  Animals follow instincts, artificial intelligence follows orders and commands, but a human being is free in his or her choices, only limited by his/her capacities of understanding at the time of the decision. The line is exactly there, once you receive a soul, you receive a free will, and therefore you are counted as a human being. Artificial intelligence cannot exist without a human intelligence as a mastermind.