Muslim Apologists on Euthanasia

<p>Euthanasia—which is usually defined as ending a patient’s life for compassionate reasons, most notably to alleviate pain—is a highly controversial issue in modern moral philosophy, including in contemporary Arab thought. Although secular Arab writers rarely addressed the topic in depth, contemporary Muslim thinkers, especially those working in the field of law or Islamic jurisprudence and ethics, have paid much attention to it because of its close connection to Islam’s vision of life, death, and divine providence. This research aims to analyze and evaluate the arguments of these thinkers based on contemporary analytical philosophy. Although contemporary Muslim jurists and thinkers primarily oppose euthanasia on theological grounds, they sometimes resort to popular humanitarian and secular arguments or justifications, such as the claim that life is sacred or that the risks that may result from legalizing euthanasia are harmful. This study showed that the positions of these thinkers are based on a set of logical fallacies and weak evidence that do not stand up to rigorous scrutiny. These critical flaws not only undermine their arguments but also highlight the need for a more coherent philosophical framework to adequately address the ethical complexities of euthanasia.</p>