Islamic perspectives on organ donation

Please note the information below is provided for general information purposes only. Please consult a qualified, relevant authorized officer in your respective country prior to making any final decisions.

Fatwa from UK-based Sunni scholar

In June 2019, a UK-based Sunni scholar, Mufti Mohammed Zubair Butt, a Jurisconsult from the Institute of Islamic Jurisprudence in Bradford produced a fatwa, Organ Donation and Transplantation in Islam: An Opinion.

Click here to read more or click here to watch the interview

Source: NHS Blood and Transplant

Ministry of Health and the Malaysia Department of Islamic Development (JAKIM) jointly produce a document containing information on organ donation from an Islamic perspective

The Malaysian Ministry of Health together with the Malaysia Department of Islamic Development (JAKIM) produced a document titled Organ Transplantation From the Islamic Perspective". According to that document:

"Basically, organ transplantation and donation are permissible in Islam. This is because organ transplantation and donation fulfil the requirement in the preservation of human life, which is one of the five objectives in maqasid al-syar'iyyah (objectives of the Islamic law)".

Click here to read the entire document.

Source: Ministry of Health Malaysia

Maz Ali's personal experience

“I know how hard it is for certain communities to talk about donation. Sometimes religious beliefs can act as a barrier to donation – I’m Muslim and I know there is concern that organ donation is un-Islamic. But it can save lives, so it’s important we spread the word amongst our peers.” Maz Ali

Maz was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease (PKD) in 1990, and his kidney function declined gradually from then on. In 2012 his kidneys failed completely and he started dialysis.

His doctor initially told him that the average wait for a kidney transplant was five or six years for an Asian patient, due to a lack of suitable donors. Thankfully, Maz was on dialysis for 11 months before receiving a kidney from a deceased donor.

Source: Kidney Research UK