Assalaamu alaykum. Nowadays, hybridization of plants is popular. I am very fond of gardening. There are three types of plants: autogamous, xenogamous and geitonogamous. Either the plant pollinates by self-pollination where there is no scope of natural hybridization or by pollinating with different flowers either on the same plant or on different plants where there is a possibility of natural hybridization. Hybrids of flowers are made to make them look more beautiful. Does hybridization fall under the category of changing the creation of Allaah for beautification, as in the hadith prohibiting women to shape eyebrows, or is it halal on the basis that Allaah did not prohibit it? Secondly, if hybridization for beauty is not allowed, then is hybridization that benefits allowed, for example of fruits, to get a better and a tough variety? I heard that there is a hadith, most probably in Silsilah As-Saheehah, although I do not remember it well, so forgive me if I misquote it, in which Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said that hybridization for creating a mule is done by ignorant people. (I may be wrong.) Can we eat hybrid fruits and vegetables like oranges? Hybridisation still seems to challenge the creation of Allaah through the thought that we can obtain a better product than what Allaah has made. (We seek refuge in Allaah from such thoughts.) May Allaah reward you.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

Among the established rules in Islam is that all things, in principle, are permissible, among which is what is related to hybridization or the so-called genetic engineering in agriculture; in principle, it is permissible, unless it leads to a harm.

Among the recommendations of the seminar on genetics and genetic engineering, the human genome and gene therapy – an Islamic Perspective – held by the Islamic Organization for Medical Sciences with the participation of the Islamic Fiqh Committee in Jeddah, is the following: “It is permissible to use genetic engineering in the field of botany and zoology, but the seminar does not neglect the announcements that lately warned against the possibility of the occurrence of harm for humans, animals, plants, or the environment in the long run.”

Therefore, in principle, hybridization is permissible regardless of whether it is for the purpose of beautification or other purposes; similarly, eating hybrid plants is permissible in principle.

On the other hand, hybridization has nothing to do with changing or imitating Allaah’s creation. Also, what was mentioned about the prohibition of making donkeys mate with horses is only disliked and not forbidden, and this is for reasons and meanings that are not present in the hybridization of plants.

Sharh al-Mishkaat reads:

“To let donkeys mate with horses was absolutely disliked as the Prophet said in the hadeeth narrated by ‘Ali 'Those who do so are those who do not know.'

The reason for this dislike is terminating the breeding of the horses and exchanging what is better for what is less. A mule is not suitable for racing and fighting; it is for this reason that it is not given a share in a booty and that there is no racing of mules according to one of the scholarly opinions.”

Therefore, hybridization and pollination of plants are among the worldly matters on which the sharee'ah kept silent and which it did not forbid. It is the Ijtihaad (independent reasoning) and human experiences that are taken into account in this regard as long as they do not contradict the general Islamic rules.

Hammaad ibn Salamah narrated from Hishaam ibn ‘Urwah, from his father, from ‘Aa’ishah, from Thaabit, from Anas, that the Prophet passed by some people who were pollinating palm trees and said, “If you do not do so, it will still come out right.” The dates came out of poor quality. Then the Prophet passed by them, and said, “What happened to your palm trees?” They said, “You said so and so.” He [the Prophet] said, “You are more aware of your worldly matters.” [Muslim]

For more benefit, please refer to fataawa 107188 and 92440.

Allaah knows best.