Fatwa ID: 04799

Answered by: Maulana Sibghat Ullah

Question

Anyone has any information on the following: 

1. Bone marrow donation

2. Stem cell donation

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer: 

According to the Islamic Jurisprudence (which is based on the teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah) the use of unlawful things are permitted in cases of extreme need and necessity. Allah says in Quran :

“He (Allah) has only forbidden you dead meat, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that on which any other name has been invoked besides that of Allah. But if one is forced by necessity, without wilful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits, then he is guiltless. For Allah is Most Forgiving and Most Merciful.”

Allah also permits the utterance of disbelief (kufr) in order to save your life. Allah says:

“Anyone who, after accepting faith in Allah, utters unbelief, except under compulsion whilst his heart remaining firm in faith…”

The principle of Fiqh, based on the above Qur’anic guidelines, states:

“Necessity makes prohibition lawful.”

Therefore, in cases of need and necessity, impure, unlawful, and Haram things become permissible. When a person’s life is in danger and he is in dire need, then in such a situation, bone marrow and stem cell donation will be permissible.

There is also the juristic principle that  “If one is confronted with two evils, one should choose the lesser of the two.”

If an individual is drowning or is in the midst of a burning flame, it is totally permissible to go and save him and put yourself in danger. Similarly, it will be permissible to donate your bone marrow and stem cells in order to save the life of a fellow human being.

In view of the above, it will be permissible to donate bone marrow and stem cells in order to save another person’s life. 

For more please read the fatwa of Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah “Can a Muslim Donate his Bone Marrow to a Non-Muslim Child?”

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Maulana Sibghat Ullah

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham