Fatwa ID: 06701
Answered by: Maulana Mamunur Hussain
Question:
My friend’s baby passed away, stillborn, Islamically is it ok to do an autopsy to find out what happened?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Allah (swt) has honored mankind, Allah says in the Qur’an:
۞ وَلَقَدْ كَرَّمْنَا بَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ وَحَمَلْنَـٰهُمْ فِى ٱلْبَرِّ وَٱلْبَحْرِ وَرَزَقْنَـٰهُم مِّنَ ٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتِ وَفَضَّلْنَـٰهُمْ عَلَىٰ كَثِيرٍۢ مِّمَّنْ خَلَقْنَا تَفْضِيلًۭا ٧٠
And We bestowed dignity on the children of ’Ādam and provided them with rides on the land and in the sea, and provided them with a variety of good things and made them much superior to many of those whom We have created. (Surah Isra 17:70
Mufti Taqi Usmani)
Humans have been given a special status in the Shariah, it is forbidden to cause harm to another human, this extends to humans after they have passed away as well.
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ “ كَسْرُ عَظْمِ الْمَيِّتِ كَكَسْرِهِ حَيًّا
Aisha (ra) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Breaking a dead man’s bone is like breaking it when he is alive1
The verse and hadith cited (amongst many more) highlight the sanctity of mankind and the human body. Therefore it will not be allowed to conduct a post-mortem on a dead body unless there is a medical or legal requirement, if the family of the deceased are given the option one should refuse and hasten to the burial.
Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best.
Written by Maulana Mamunur Hussain
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
1 Sunan Abi Dawud 3207
