Someone from Canada sent Hazrat Amirul Momineen, Khalifatul Masih Vaa his interpretation of the following Quranic verse:
وَ اِذَا تَوَلّٰي سَعٰي فِي الۡاَرۡضِ لِيُفۡسِدَ فِيۡہَا وَ يُہۡلِکَ الۡحَرۡثَ وَ النَّسۡلَ ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ لَا يُحِبُّ الۡفَسَادَ
“And when he is in authority, he runs about in the land to create disorder in it and destroy the crops and the progeny [of man]; and Allah loves not disorder.” (Surah al-Baqarah, Ch.2: V.206)
The individual interpreted the “destruction of the crops and the progeny” mentioned in this verse to mean the attempt at physical, mental and doctrinal change among humans by tampering with DNA and RNA and sought guidance from Huzoor-e-Anwaraa in this regard.
Huzoor-e-Anwaraa, in his letter dated 24 November 2021, provided the following guidance regarding this matter:
“In accordance with the promise of Allah the Exalted, the Holy Quran has been revealed to guide humankind until the Day of Judgment. Hence, Allah the Exalted states in the Holy Quran:
وَإِنْ مِنْ شَيْءٍ إِلَّا عِنْدَنَا خَزَائِنُهُ وَمَا نُنَزِّلُهُ إِلَّا بِقَدَرٍ مَعْلُومٍ
“‘And there is not a thing but are [limitless] treasures thereof with Us and We send it not down except in a known measure [according to the needs of every era].’ (Surah al-Hijr, Ch.15: V.22)
“The interpretation you provided for the verse from a scientific perspective is correct and there is nothing wrong with it. The subject of human destruction as a result of tampering with DNA has also been discussed by Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh on some occasions. Hence, under the topic of genetic engineering, in his magnum opus ‘Revelation, Rationality, Knowledge, and Truth’, he has also addressed the negative consequences of such adverse tempering in human creation and warned scientists and governments about them.
“Similarly, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIra, and Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIIrh also gave very insightful interpretations of this verse in their respective times. In those interpretations too, mankind has been cautioned against taking such adverse measures. Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra, for instance, interprets this verse as follows:
“‘[This verse points out that] these individuals are such that when they assume power – that is, when they acquire authority by employing God-given faculties – instead of serving their country or its people, and establishing a sense of peace and security in the hearts of people, they introduce measures that lead to conflict between people of different countries, tribes and religions, and create chaos in the land. They also adopt ways that destroy the country’s social and moral fabric and bring ruin to future generations.
“‘The word ‘harth’ in the Quranic verse literally means an ‘agricultural crop’, but here it is used figuratively with a wider connotation to mean that instead of employing means to improve the state of the society, these individuals enact laws that destroy the country’s society, its economy and its financial situation. In this way, they create obstacles for the progress of future generations and pass laws that deprive them of the capacity and knowledge needed for growth and development.’ (Tafsir-e-Kabir, Vol. 2, pp. 453-454)
“Similarly, in his Friday sermons, delivered on 28 July and 11 August 1972, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIIrh interpreted verse 206 of Surah al-Baqarah and stated that the misuse of God-given capacities and faculties is damaging to humanity. He warned of the wrath of Allah the Exalted that would result from this. These two sermons by Huzoorrh have been published in the fourth volume of Khutbat-e-Nasir and are available for everyone to study.”