The debates about the pros and cons of cloning in the media are usually dominated by views of the Christian churches, philosophers, and lobbyists. Yet the issues raised by cloning are, for several... Show moreThe debates about the pros and cons of cloning in the media are usually dominated by views of the Christian churches, philosophers, and lobbyists. Yet the issues raised by cloning are, for several reasons, affecting mankind in general and therefore cannot be solved by representatives and opinion leaders predominantly from the so-called 'West' only. Among these reasons is the fundamental question of whether our concepts of 'man', 'personhood', and consequently 'mankind' have to be reformulated in the light of recent scientific progress. It is obvious that a final, universally acceptable answer to this question cannot be arrived at if representatives of religions such as Islam, Buddhism, or Hinduism are not included in this debate. Show less
Abu l-Huda was born in a small village on the margins of the northern Syrian desert in 1850 into a family of humble origins. In his early childhood, he was initiated into the Rifaciyya order, which... Show moreAbu l-Huda was born in a small village on the margins of the northern Syrian desert in 1850 into a family of humble origins. In his early childhood, he was initiated into the Rifaciyya order, which is still widely spread today in the rural areas of Syria and Iraq. He was quick to develop substantial contacts with Rifaci sheiks in Aleppo, who dominated certain important posts in the city. In 1874, he became the naqib ala shraf (scion of the descendants of the prophets) there at a strikingly young age. In the following years, he managed to overcome several severe setbacks to his career and finally established himself in the entourage of the new Sultan Abdlhamid II, whose accession to the throne marked the end of the tanzimat, a period of wide-ranging administrative reforms in Ottoman history. Show less
