Legalizing euthanasia: Where do Muslims stand on the Terri Schiavo case?

First you, then the Muslims

Religious views have been central to the debate regarding the fate of Terri Schiavo, the Florida woman with severe brain damage who was disconnected from her feeding tube per court order over a week ago. Both Terri’s husband (who fought for the disconnection) and her parents (who have tried in vain to keep her alive) have invoked religious beliefs in justifying their positions. In the case of the parents, the power of religion also exerted a strong influence on both the legislative and judicial branches.

Muslim voices were not altogether absent in the public debate over the moral dilemmas of this case, but leaned towards support of the position of Terri’s parents. (In contrast, over 80% of Americans – including 68% of those who call themselves “evangelicals” – supported the position of Terri’s husband.) “Even if [Schiavo] wanted to withdraw the tube,” argued Boca Raton, Florida Imam Sayed Mohammad Jawad Al Qazwini, “Islam would say she could not… We don’t have authority over our souls; only God does.” Seattle commentator Aziz Junejo agreed. “The majority of Muslims in America believe her life should be saved, and perhaps doctors should reinsert the feeding tube.” (We must have missed the polling of Muslims on this issue.) “You cannot deny hydration or nutrition in a vegetative state,” said Dr. Shahid Athar, head of medical ethics for the Islamic Medical Association of North America and a professor at Indiana University School of Medicine. “It’s not a heroic measure.”

And even the folks at CAIR, who make unfortunate, occasional forays into Islamic morals, chimed in on the side of those they usually disagree with. “I personally agree that Bush and Congress have intervened to save one life,” said CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad. But behind the statements of these spokesmen is a much more complex picture. “Some say that ending the life of a person in a hopeless condition is considered murder and is forbidden, while others say that it could be done, “said Safwat Hijazy, a prominent Egyptian Islamic cleric. “In cases when sickness gets out of hand, and recovery happens to be tied to miracle,” explained Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, “no one can say treatment then is obligatory or even recommended.” Dr. Abdulaziz Sachedina of the University of Virginia goes further. “Islamic law does not forbid withdrawal of the futile and disproportional treatment on the basis of the consent of the immediate family members who act upon the professional advice of the physician in charge of the case.”

Nevertheless, the most-quoted Muslim position on this issue is in support of the parents, which should please fundamentalists like Randall Terry – at least until the issue is over and he and his compatriots can go back to hating Muslims.

Shahed Amanullah is editor-in-chief of altmuslim.com.