ABSTRACT
Ethics is a concept with reference to knowledge of moral or moral principles, and from an Islāmic perspective the principle of morality (or akhlāq), virtues, duties and attitudes. The paradigm of Western-oriented bioethics are based on ‘the four principles’: respect for autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence and justice. In the psychological research context, the universal principles of ethics including autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence and justice may have a valid application. The root of moral or ethical behaviours from an Islāmic perspective is based on three main sources: Belief in the unity of God and innate nature (Al-Fitrah); faculty of reasoning (al-‘Aql) and divine revelation (Al-wahy). The Islāmic research ethics theory on research is based on the five purposes of the Islāmic law., the Maqasid al Shari’ah (religion, life, progeny, the mind and wealth). If any of these criteria is not met, then the human subjects experimentation would be prohibited in Islāmic research. Therapeutic research fulfils the purpose of protecting health and life; Infertility research fulfils the purpose of protecting progeny; psychiatric research fulfils the purpose of protecting the mind; and the search for cheaper treatments fulfils the purpose of protecting wealth. Islāmic and Western research ethical systems consider the actions and outcomes of ethical decision making and share the principles of doing good (beneficence), avoiding harm (non-malfeasance), respect for autonomy and fairness and equity (justice). Muslim research psychologists must continue to uphold these moral principles at all stages of the research development and implementation, and in research publication. This chapter focuses on the examination of Western and Islāmic ethics, provides an overview of ethics and bioethics guidelines in the Islāmic world, and focuses on Islāmic ethical guidelines for research.
