An Islamic perspective on organ donation

On this page:

UK Islamic rulings on organ donation
The organ donation process
Islamic views on organ donation
Making your choice
Islamic donor cards

Organ donation is giving an organ to help someone who needs a transplant.

In Islam there are a number of fatawa (religious edicts) with regard to organ donation.

Islamic scholars and imams play an important role in providing guidance to members of the Muslim community on organ donation.

Over the last few years, NHS Blood and Transplant has been facilitating conversations within the Muslim community, bringing together Islamic scholars, imams, umbrella organisations and hospital based Muslim chaplains to discuss organ donation. There are a number of different viewpoints.

Over 100 fatawa (religious edicts) have been produced around the world about organ donation and three of these have been published in the UK.

These rulings provide important guidance and context within Islamic law and help Muslims to make informed and personal decisions about organ donation.

UK Islamic rulings on organ donation

2019 - Organ Donation and Transplantation in Islam: An Opinion

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.

Mufti Mohammed Zubair Butt has been a hospital chaplain for over 20 years and has considerable experience of the organ donation process.

In the videos you can find out more about how Mufti Mohammed Zubair Butt researched organ donation before reaching his opinion and how this fatwa sits with other fatawa published around the world.

Mufti Mohammed Zubair Butt interview

Mufti Mohammed Zubair Butt talks about how he researched organ donation and how he hopes his fatwa will add to the discussion around organ donation

Mufti Mohammed Zubair Butt and Shaykh Dr Mansur Ali in conversation

Watch more videos about the ruling on YouTube

Read the ruling

Read a short summary of the conclusions Mufti Mohammed Zubair Butt reached on the permissibility of receiving a transplant, living and deceased organ donation, and other forms of donation.

Read the full text of the ruling

2000 - Fatwa of the European Council for Fatwa and Research

In 2000 the European Council for Fatwa and Research (ECFR), based in Dublin, Ireland, declared its ratification of the resolutions of both the Islamic Fiqh Academy (IFA) of the Muslim World League and the International Islamic Fiqh Academy (IIFA).

Download the 2000 Fatwa of the European Council for Fatwa and Research in Arabic

1995 - Fatwa of The Muslim Law (Shariah) Council

The basic position of this fatwa was that organ transplantation is permissible, and brain-stem death is a proper definition of death.

Read the 1995 fatwa

The organ donation process

Many Muslims have questions about the organ donation process.

What is the process for organ donation?

Organs are only removed for transplantation after a person has died. Because they have to be transplanted very soon after death, they can only be donated by someone who has died in a hospital, under particular conditions.

Our Specialist Nurses for Organ Donation will check to see whether an individual is on the NHS Organ Donor Register, and in addition, the family of a potential donor will always be consulted.

More information about the different types of organ donation is available here

Is someone’s faith/beliefs respected during the organ donation process?

Families approached about organ donation are asked whether they would like a faith/ belief representative to participate in the discussion.

During the discussions with families, our nurses routinely explore any faith or cultural considerations or concerns and work very hard to address these.

This may include questions such as whether a family or religious figure will have time to say prayers, how washing or dressing requirements in line with your faith will be met and whether a swift burial will still be possible.

Does organ donation affect burial?

Islamic views on organ donation

Hear from Muslim medical professionals discussing organ donation and addressing common questions raised by members of the Muslim community, and patients and families talking about the impact kidney disease has had on their lives.

Muslim medical professionals address common questions about organ donation

Amjid Ali talks about the potential impact of the 2019 fatwa

Sadia's life was transformed after a kidney transplant

“If you happened to be ill and in need of a transplant, you certainly would wish that someone would help you by providing the needed organ.”
Sheikh Dr MA Zaki Badawi, Principal, Muslim College, London

Making your choice

Whether or not to donate is your choice. But it can be seen differently even in the same religious groups. If you have any doubt, you should approach your religious adviser.

Make sure you talk to your family and friends about your decision so they know your decision on organ donation.