Sunday, October 1, 2023
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Donating and accepting organs

Fatwaa ID: 690

Question:
I have a son who is born with a heart defect and the drs have told us that in the future, IF he goes into heart failure he may need to get a heart transplant. So this is why I was asking if a transplant permissible? (Accepting organ from someone who donates it)

This was why I was asking about donating ones organs, it makes me think about others who may need a transplant in order to survive.

And donating ones organs is not permissible?

Answer:
In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salaamu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullaahi wa-barakaatuh.

May Allaah Ta’aala grant your son complete shifaa. May He make it easy for him and the family.

There is a difference between accepting and donating organs. While they may seem to go hand in hand, the rulings are separate and different. If an organ is donated, then it is permissible for the patient to accept it. He is not responsible for the doings of the donor.

As far as donating organs are concerned, then the default is that it is not permissible to donate organs. However, there is a dispensation if:
-there is a genuine need for it,
-the donor voluntarily donates the organ,
-the donor’s health, body or life is not put to risk
-and it has been advised by an upright reliable doctor.

If and only when the above conditions are met, it will be permissible to donate an organ. If they are not met, then it will not be permissible to donate an organ. Furthermore, this dispensation is only applicable during one’s lifetime. After the demise of a person, organs cannot be donated at all.

In the enquired case, in the unfortunate situation that your son requires a heart transplant, it will be permissible for him to accept the donation of a donor.

And Allaah Ta’aala knows best.
Mufti Muajul I. Chowdhury
Darul Iftaa New York
https://askthemufti.us/

08/04/1444 AH – 02/24/2023 CE | AML1-7175

وصل اللهم وسلم وبارك على سيدنا محمد وعلى ءاله وصحبه أجمعين

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