Friends, a few days back I had written on the topic of Blood Donation, and how the government wants to encourage Hospitals and Blood Banks to get blood donations from volunteers, and not to force the relatives and friends of the patient for replacing the blood transfused with the patient. One of my friends who is from Bangalore commented on my post saying that “ A highly enlightened person like cricketer Syed Kirmani, refused blood donation at Bangalore, saying it is un Islamic, is it true that Muslims only receive blood & organs, but do not donate”? I was taken off guard by his statement because I have never heard about this, and this forced me to further explore this topic to find what is the truth in this matter.
Here are some findings
1 What is the ruling of the Shari’ah on blood transfusion and blood donation?
Here, three matters which are addressed
- Who is the person who is to receive the blood transfusion?- is the person whose life is in danger due to sickness or injury, and whose life depends on receiving a blood transfusion, and there is no other medicine or food that can do the same thing, then, in that case, it is permissible for the person to receive a blood transfusion.
- Who is the person from whom the blood is to be taken?- the person from whom the blood is taken, should not come under serious harm, because the Prophet said “ There should be no causing harm nor reciprocating harm”.
- Who is the person who can be trusted to decide whether a blood transfusion is needed?- whose opinion should be relied upon to decide whether a blood transfusion is needed, this should be a Muslim doctor. If that is not possible, there is nothing wrong with taking the word of a non-Muslim doctor, whether he is Jewish or Christian (or any other religion), so long as he is experienced in medicine and is trustworthy.
2 The Hay’at Kibar al-Ulama (Council of Senior Scholars)- states the following
- It is permissible to donate blood, so long as this does not cause any harm when there is a need for it to help other Muslims.
- It is permissible to establish Islamic blood banks to receive and store donated blood, to be kept for any Muslim who may be in need of it, so long as no money is charged to the sick person or people in charge of his affairs in return for this service. A blood bank should not be set up as a commercial enterprise or a means of making money, because it is in the public interest of the Muslim.
3 In earlier days there might have been prohibition (in some sects of Muslims) with regard to blood and organ donation. The present-day Islamic law considers it necessary to overrule prohibition, which means that it is permissible for Muslims to participate in blood and organ donation in cases of necessity, and/or if the donation will save another person’s life. The following conditions and limitations are applicable for Muslims who wish to participate in blood and organ donation:
- The organ may only be removed after a competent doctor pronounces the death of the donor, and after every effort has been made to save his/her life.
- Transplantation is only permissible if a competent doctor declares that the transplant is necessary for the suffering person to survive.
- For blood donation-the donor should be healthy.
- The transplant of the organ should not put the life of a patient or health in jeopardy.
- The organ(s) or blood may only be used to save another life and not for cosmetic reasons.
- The organ(s), and blood may not be sold or taken under duress.
- Blood or organ donation is not obligatory or part of Islam faith, if someone is not convinced, then there is no sin for not donating the same.
4 As per Darul Uloom Deoband-India- their fatwa says “ A person is not the owner of his body parts to act freely whatever he likes, therefore one can not donate his blood and body part, but one can donate blood in order to save the life of relatives.
Now, most Islamic sects are allowing blood and organ donations. Yes earlier there might have been some restrictions on blood/organ donations, but slowly almost all of the Islamic sects are coming out and declaring blood and organ donation is allowed, but with some guidelines.
In general, with regard to blood and organ donation, Islamic law considers it necessary to overrule earlier prohibitions, which means that “it is permissible for Muslims to participate in blood and organ donation in cases of necessity; and/or if the donation will save another person’s life.
Friends, I am not an expert on Islamic laws, and whatever information I could gather has been shared with you. If, by chance, I have committed some mistake in interpreting the Islamic writings on this matter, my sincere apologies for the same.
Waiting for your views on this blog.
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
8th September 2022