Common Islamic Organ Donation Questions & Answers
The Islamic preference is for healthcare workers to be the same gender as the patient, is this possible
for the organ donation process?
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This is a personal request that is best discussed with the Organ and Tissue Donation Coordinator
to include in arrangements with the transplant donation team.
Does Islam agree with organ donation?
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Like most faiths, saving a life is regarded as the highest act of kindness, generosity and compassion. Those
that permit organ donation encourage the practice, and view it as an individual’s choice.
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The majority of Shariah law councils have concluded that organ donation is allowed, and indeed
recommended in Islam.
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The intention to save a human life is well founded in Shariah law and this act of kindness is a true sadaqa
jariya (perpetual charity), the rewards for this will be immense on the Day of Judgement.
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One of the fundamental purposes of Islamic law is the preservation of life. Allah greatly rewards
those who save the life of others.
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Based on the legal rule that ‘necessities permit the prohibited’ (al-darurat tubih al-mahzurat), scholars
have ruled -- in cases where it is life or death -- that organ donation is permissible to save another life
(and they frequently quote, for example, Surat Al-Ma'idah [5:32]: "And whoever saves one life it is as if he
had saved mankind entirely."
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“Whosoever helps another will be granted help from Allah.”
Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him)
Isn’t it true Muslims must be buried quickly and cannot wait to have organs removed?
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It is Sunna, traditional Muslim law, to hasten the burial of the dead; however, for good reasons the
deceased may be buried later. There is no specific timing for burial once the body is kept properly and
respected. When families send their dead back home for burial it can take weeks. This operation only
takes hours.
Isn’t organ donation a procedure that dishonours a human body?
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No. organ donation does not dishonour the human body. The surgery is performed in the most
respectable way and it is not considered to be disrespectful. This is the reason why many highly respected
people of the community regard donating of organs as a mark of merit.
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No. The surgical procedure of transplantation ensures that one does not go thorough unnecessary
mutilation of the body. It is similar to surgical treatment that is carried out on a living person for medical
purposes.
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No. Shariah law overlooks the sanctity that is attributed to the body, in the case of saving another human.
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Scholars Permitting Organ Donation
 The Fiqh Academy of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC)
 Highest Council of Scholars, Riyadh
 Mufti of Egypt
 Fatwa Committee of Kuwait
 Dr. Yusuf Al-Qaradhawi
 ECFR, European Council for Fatawa
 The National Fatwa Council of Malaysia
 Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) (revised fatwa)
 The Council of Scholars of Great Britain
 Fiqh Council of North America
 The Assembly of Islamic Fiqh Council
 Combined Fatwa of Iranian Scholars
 The Canadian Council of Imams
 The International Islamic Fiqh Academy of the Muslim World League
 Al Azhar University in Egypt
 Saudi Arabia’s Council of Senior Ulema (Islamic scholars)
 The International Islamic Conference held in Malaysia
 Fatwa Committees in Jordan, Kuwait, Egypt and Algeria
Register for organ donation at: BeADonor.ca/southasian