The Use of Robots in Medical Surgeries

(A fundamental jurisprudential study)

Abstract

This study presents a foundational juristic (fiqhī) examination of the use of robots in medical surgeries, considering it one of the contemporary medical issues arising from rapid scientific and technological advancement. The research aims to determine the Sharʿī ruling on the use of surgical robots and to establish its legal grounding in light of Islamic legal evidence, overarching juristic principles, and the objectives of Islamic law, particularly the preservation of life as one of the five essential necessities upheld by the Sharīʿah.

The study adopts a descriptive–analytical methodology supported by maqāṣid-based analysis. This is achieved through an inductive survey of relevant Qurʾānic and Prophetic texts, the opinions of classical and contemporary jurists, and resolutions of modern fiqh academies, alongside an analytical examination of technological developments and their alignment with established juristic foundations. A comparative approach is also employed to present differing scholarly perspectives on the issues under discussion.

Structurally, the research consists of an introduction, three main chapters, and a conclusion. The first chapter defines surgical robots and explains their mechanisms of operation from medical and technical perspectives. The second chapter addresses the juristic characterization (takīf fiqhī) of using robots in surgical procedures, drawing upon relevant legal maxims and objectives of Islamic law. The third chapter examines the Sharʿī ruling on the use of surgical robots and outlines the necessary legal controls governing their permissibility, including issues of liability, responsibility, and informed consent. The study concludes with key findings and recommendations, contributing to bridging the gap between Islamic jurisprudence and applied medical sciences, and enriching contemporary fiqh literature on emerging medical technologies.