What is the ruling on organ donation and transplantation in Islam?

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Question
What is the ruling on organ donation and transplantation in Islam?

Answer
Alhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ‘ala rasoolillah, wa ‘ala alihi wa sahbihi ajma‘in.

Organ donation raises two values in Shariah: the sanctity of the human body (alive and deceased) and the duty to preserve life. The Qur’an says: “Whoever saves a life, it is as if he has saved all mankind” (al-Ma’idah 5:32), while the Prophet ﷺ said: “Breaking the bone of the dead is like breaking it when alive.” (Abu Dawud).

Scholarly Rulings

  • IIFA (OIC, 1988), MWL (Makkah), Council of Senior Scholars (Saudi), AMJA, ECFR, FCNA: All permit organ donation and transplantation with conditions, and all prohibit organ sale.
  • Living donation: Allowed if the organ is renewable (blood, marrow) or paired/partial (kidney, liver segment), with minimal risk to donor. Not allowed if it endangers life or removes a vital organ.
  • Deceased donation: Allowed if consent was given (or heirs/authority approve), using recognized death criteria (most councils accept brain-death, though some scholars only accept circulatory death). The body must still be treated respectfully.
  • Prohibited organs: Reproductive glands (testes, ovaries) because of lineage concerns.
  • Compensation: Only expenses may be covered; commercial sale is forbidden.

Key Conditions

  1. Clear lifesaving or essential benefit.
  2. Valid consent (living or deceased/next of kin).
  3. No sale; only costs reimbursed.
  4. Minimal risk to donor.
  5. Respect for the deceased.
  6. No reproductive gland donation.
  7. Compliance with law and medical standards.

Debated Issues

  • Brain-death: Accepted by many fiqh councils; some scholars reject it. Follow local scholars and law.
  • Necessity scope: Life-saving (kidney, liver, cornea) clearly allowed; purely cosmetic or experimental transplants are not.

Final Ruling

Organ donation is permissible with strict conditions: lifesaving or essential need, valid consent, no commercial sale, exclusion of reproductive glands, minimal harm to the donor, and respect for the deceased. These rulings reflect IIFA, MWL, Saudi Council of Senior Scholars, and other major fatwa councils. Where disputes exist (e.g., brain-death), one follows the position of trustworthy scholars and the lawful medical standard.

And Allah knows best.

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