Fatwa Lab
Medical Technology
Religious Considerations for Singaporean Muslims
Regarding Carrier Screening for Genetic Diseases

The discussion aims to explore the effective implementation of a value-based approach to customised carrier screening. The main goal is to offer religious guidance for Muslim couples to make decisions in line with Shariah principles, and to develop specific framework for this purpose. Additionally, it aims to explore the anticipated future consequences of such screenings and reproductive options for family planning within the framework of Shariah, and how the established framework can assist Muslim couples in navigating these emerging challenges.

Saumya Shekhar Jamuar
Dr. Saumya Shekhar Jamuar
Senior Consultant, Genetics Service KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore

Dr. Saumya Shekhar Jamuar is a clinical geneticist at KK Women's and Children's Hospital and genomics co-lead of SingHealth Duke-NUS Maternal Child Health Research Institute. He strongly believes in using the advancements made in technologies related to genetics to improve the health of people. His training in paediatrics allows him to appreciate the severity of rare but lethal childhood illnesses and, more importantly, recognise the fact that a significant proportion of these illnesses have a genetic component. In his desire to improve care across the health industry, he is actively involved in developing diagnostic genetic tests for patients with various medical disorders, including autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, and brain malformations.

Dr. Saumya holds an MBBS from National University of Singapore. He also holds a Membership of the Royal College of Paediatric and Child Health (M.R.C.P.C.H), UK, and is a Fellow of Academy of Medicine (F.A.M.S), Singapore and American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics, USA. He has completed his Clinical Genetics training from the Harvard Medical School.

Mohammad Hannan Hassan
Ustaz Dr. Mohammad Hannan Hassan
Deputy Mufti, Singapore

Ustaz Dr. Mohammad Hannan Hassan is currently the Deputy Mufti at the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis). He currently oversees community engagement, public education and engagement in Office of the Mufti. He also advises the Community Religious Life through the One Mosque Sector, and Interfaith relations. He chairs the Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Panel of the Asatizah Recognition Scheme (ARS).

Ustaz Dr. Hannan obtained his PhD in Islamic Studies from McGill University, Canada after receiving his Master of Arts (Islamic Civilization) from the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC), Kuala Lumpur, and his Bachelor of Education (BEd) from Kuwait. He specializes in Muslim-Jewish relations, interfaith relations, history, and philosophy of Islamic law in the Malay Archipelago, and Islamic history and philosophy of education. He is also a board member of the International Abrahamic Forum (IAF), as part of the International Council of Christians and Jews (ICCJ), based in Heppenheim, Germany.

Husna Azzakiyah Muhammad Haniff
Ustazah Husna Azzakiyah Muhammad Haniff
Fatwa Lab Researcher, Singapore

Ustazah Husna Azzakiyah Muhammad Haniff received her early formal education from Madrasah Al-Irsyad Al-Islamiah and Madrasah Al-Ma'arif Al-Islamiah. She later graduated with a Bachelor's degree (Hons) in Fiqh and Usul al-Fiqh from the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). Currently, she holds an executive position at Darul Tafsir, Al-Khair Mosque.

Ustazah Husna Azzakiyah enjoys conducting interdisciplinary research by delving into current and emerging issues, their causes, the necessary religious considerations, and exploring different solutions. Working on contemporary Fiqh issues fulfils her passion for religious studies and contributing to society. She was recently tasked to lead a Fatwa Lab group researching on the Islamic perspective of carrier screening for genetic diseases.

Chair
Mohd Rizhan Leman
Ustaz Dr. Mohd Rizhan Leman
Associate Member of Fatwa Committee, Singapore

Ustaz Dr. Mohd Rizhan Leman completed his pre-university studies at Tampines Junior College. He attained his first degree in Shariah from the Islamic University of Madinah. He continued his Masters in the field of Comparative Law at the International Islamic University Malaysia. He graduated from the International Islamic University Malaysia with a Doctor of Philosophy in Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Heritage (Fiqh and Usul Fiqh).

Ustaz Dr. Rizhan is currently a freelance educator and an associate member of the Fatwa Committee in Singapore.