❖ Question:
Can modern scientific tests like the BIGY 700 DNA test be used in Shari'ah to determine centuries-old lineage?
Is it scientifically valid to trace human lineage back to 300,000 years ago?
❖ Answer by:
Shaykh ʿAbd al-Wakeel Nasir ḥafiẓahullāh
al-Bāḥith Dāʾūd Ismāʿīl ḥafiẓahullāh
① DNA Testing and Islamic Legal Rulings:
Using DNA testing to determine lineage is not permissible without genuine necessity.
Ulama have permitted the use of DNA testing only in dire situations, such as:
✔ When the identity of an unknown child must be established.
✔ In cases of confusion or mix-ups between newborns in a hospital, to verify parentage.
② Reason for Prohibition in Normal Circumstances:
In ordinary cases, using DNA to determine lineage is not permissible, because:
Islamic law has clearly defined methods for proving or denying lineage, namely:
✔ "Firāsh" (presumption of paternity through marriage)
✔ "Liʿān" (mutual cursing procedure)
These principles are not based on scientific analysis, but divine legislation.
If someone undergoes DNA testing about their forefathers and the results show inconsistencies or doubts, it could lead to family discord and societal tribulations.
③ Claims of Modern Science:
Claims that DNA tests can determine lineage dating back hundreds of thousands of years are scientifically controversial and highly uncertain.
According to the Islamic belief in creation, and the Qur’an,
Ādam (ʿalayhis-salām) is the first human, and the idea of humans existing 300,000 years ago contradicts Islamic creed.
④ A Conspiracy to Undermine the Ummah:
According to Shaykh ʿAbd al-Wakeel Nasir, such tests and ideologies are part of a broader effort to:
Create inferiority complexes among the youth Distance them from Islamic beliefs and practices
Summary:
✦ It is not permissible to use DNA tests to establish lineage without necessity or valid Shari'ah justification.
✦ In emergency cases, such as identifying an unknown child or hospital mix-up, it may be used with scholarly permission.
✦ The Shari'ah-approved methods of establishing lineage are through Firāsh and Liʿān, not through DNA.
