Donating body organs


Question :

My father suffers from renal failure. Doctors affirm that his two kidneys are no longer functioning. He performs kidney dialysis three times a week in a hospital. Doctors say that he will remain in such a state until the end of his life unless one of his family members donates a kidney to him. I am ready to give one of my kidneys to my father, but I would like to know if this is permissible or not. I heard a Fatwa (legal opinion issued by a qualified Muslim scholar) permitting organ donation after death. Is this permissible during one’s life? Is it permissible to buy the kidney of a living non-Muslim man from India, for instance? Please, advise me. May Allah reward you!

Answer :

It is permissible for a Muslim to donate one of his kidneys to his father if trustworthy doctors affirm that transplanting the kidney into the father’s body entails no harm on the donor and that the transplant operation is likely to be successful.
(Part No. 25; Page No. 113)
May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.

The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta’

`Abdullah ibn Ghudayyan

`Abdul-Razzaq `Afify  

`Abdul-`Aziz ibn `Abdullah ibn Baz

Shaykh Yahya Al Hajoori advises against it much, due to the harms which can occur upon the donar and mentioned the evidences for impermissibility of one harming himself.