Scientific discoveries and the role of ūlū al-albāb: reflections on synthetic human embryos

Scientists have recently made a striking breakthrough: they have created early forms of embryos, called synthetic embryos, entirely from stem cells. This means that no sperm or egg was used, and no fertilization took place. First achieved in mice in 2022, researchers managed to create human versions by 2023. However, these synthetic human embryos grow more slowly than natural embryos and are still formed at low success rates in the lab. More research is needed to improve their development and confirm if they can truly mimic how human life begins. Importantly, no synthetic embryo, animal or human, has yet resulted in a live birth. But given the rapid advances in reproductive science, some scientists believe that this may be possible in the future. This scientific development raises important ethical and religious questions, particularly from an Islamic perspective.