A reflection on the mandatory ruling of Cryonics (human freezing) from the perspective of Imami jurisprudence

Document Type : Review article

Authors

1 Phd Student, Jurisprudence and Fundamentals of Law, Semnan University, Semnan. Iran.

2 Associate Professor of Criminal Law and Criminology, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran: (Corresponding Author)

Abstract

One of the advances in medical science is the process of cryonics or cryobiology or human freezing, in which terminal patients are often frozen in the hope that in the future, with the advancement of science and technology, they can be brought back to life and their terminal illness can be cured. Although technology has not yet entered Islamic countries and it is carried out exclusively in America and Russia, but considering the progress of science, it may soon enter Islamic countries; Therefore, it is necessary to answer this question, according to Imami jurisprudence, is it permissible to freeze and cryoprecise a patient who has an incurable disease or not? By examining the verses and traditions that prohibit suicide, as well as the harmless narration and some other narrations, and taking into account that freezing and cryonics in living patients who have an incurable disease requires that they die first and then freeze them. It has come to the conclusion that cryonics is an example of inducing danger and suicide and self-harm, and is forbidden.

Keywords

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Journal of Studies in Islamic Law & Jurisprudence
Volume 17, Issue 41
December 2025
Pages 353-378

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