Jordan’s General Iftaa Department affirmed that recommending organ donation after death to save patients’ lives is permissible under Islamic law, considering it an act of charity and cooperation in doing good, and in line with Sharia’s objective of preserving human life.
اضافة اعلان
In a fatwa on the ruling regarding a will to donate all organs after death, the department explained that donating organs to relieve a patient’s suffering falls within permissible medical treatment. It cited the Quranic verse: “And whoever saves one [life] it is as if he had saved all of mankind,” as well as the legal principles that “necessities permit prohibited matters” and “necessity is assessed according to its extent.”
The department said that a person who leaves a will to donate their organs after death concludes their life with a righteous act whose reward continues, noting that a patient’s need for an organ transplant may be greater than a poor person’s need for money. It added that Islamic law encourages relieving hardship and showing kindness to others.
The fatwa stressed that organ donation from deceased individuals is subject to Islamic and medical conditions, including definitive confirmation of the donor’s death, avoiding disfigurement of the body, and doctors determining that the transplant is likely to succeed. It also requires a prior will from the donor or the consent of the heirs, depending on the type of organ and the circumstances of the transplant.
Regarding donations from living individuals, the fatwa requires the donor to have full legal capacity, for the donation not to cause harm that would impair their normal life, and for transplantation to be the medically preferable option with the highest likelihood of success. The sale of organs or receiving any financial compensation in exchange for them is strictly prohibited.
The department called for viewing organ donation as a noble form of solidarity and benevolence, particularly in light of medical advances that have made it possible to transplant numerous organs and tissues, save patients’ lives, and improve their health.
The Iftaa Department has previously issued rulings and fatwas permitting organ donation, including a 1984 ruling on donating the eye cornea, a 2010 fatwa permitting organ donation, and a 2011 ruling on donating part of the liver.
