6 Quran and hadith proofs why organ donation is halal
C J. Ahmed-09.03.2023
Organ donation is quite a controversial topic among scholars of Islam and this controversy has resulted in a difference of opinion among them. There is no direct evidence from the Quran or authentic hadiths proving that organ do nation is haram. Below are the five evidence from the Quran and the authentic hadiths on why organ donation is halal in Islam .
1. Separating the opinions from the actual evidence
For us to rely on something in Islam, we need to only rely on the two authentic sources namely, the Quran and the authentic hadiths of the prophet (sal). Allah (swt) says:
"If you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger (sal), if you believe in Allah and in the Last Day.”
(Al-Quran-4:59).
As far as the Quran an d the authentic hadiths is concerned, Islam is silence on the issue of organ donation. There are various opinion s by scholars statin g that organ donation is haram but these are based only on the personal opinions of those respective scholars.
2. Is Organ Donation Mentioned in the in the Quran?
As far as the Quran is concerned there is no clear evidence to prove that organ donation is haram. The Quran is actually silent on this topic. However there is one verse that has been used as an argument against organ donation where Allah (swt) says,
"And we have certainly honoured the children of Adam and carried them on the land and sea and provided for them of the good things and preferred them over much of what we have created, with preference."
(Al-Quran-17:70)
This verse has nothing to do with organ donation but is used as an argument to mean that man is honoured and cutting the body is a form of dishonouring man who is Allah's creation. The Quran actually encourages saving lives and Allah (swt) said,
"And if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of all mankind."
(Al-Quran-5:32)
Organ donation is a medically proven method that helps cure certain disease and ailments and this proves that the Quran does not forbid organ donation as long as it does not cause any harm to the living person and if it is consensual.
3. Organ Donation in the Hadiths
As far as the hadiths are concerned there is no direct evidence prohibiting organ donation but there is one hadith that is used by scholars who are against organ donation and the hadith is as follows,
Aisha (rali) narrated, the prophet (sal) said,
“Breaking a dead man's bone is like breaking it when he is alive"
(Abu Dawud-graded sahih by Albani)
Umm Salamah (rali) narrated that the prophet (sal) said,
"Breaking the bones of the deceased is, in sin, like breaking his bones when he is alive.”
(Ibn Majah-graded sahih by Imam Nawawi in Khulaasat al-Ahkam (3/1035) and by Sheikh al-Albani in al-Irwa’ (763))
These hadiths only specifically mention the prohibition of breaking bones of the dead especially during war and organs such as kidneys, liver or heart does not require breaking bones. The above hadiths emphasize respecting the dead and not harming the dead body by cutting g off limbs. What is mentioned in the above hadiths has only to do with mutilating dead bodies and has nothing to do with organ donation. The below hadiths explain s this further in details,
4. Organ donation vs Mutilation
Narrated `Abdullah bin Yazid Al-Ansari (rali),
"The Prophet (sal) forbade robbery (taking away what belongs to others without their permission), and also forbade mutilation (or maiming) of bodies."
(Bukhari)
Narrated Samurah ibn Jundub (rali),
"I came to Samurah ibn Jundub and asked him. He said: The Messenger of Allah (sal) used to exhort us to give alms (sadaqah) and forbid us to mutilate (a slain). I then came to Imran ibn Husayn and asked him. He said: The Messenger of Allah (sal) used to exhort us to give alms (sadaqah) and forbid us to mutilate (a slain)."
(Abu Dawud-graded sahih by Albani)
Uqbah ibn ‘Amir reported: He came to Abu Bakr (rali) with a severed head and Abu Bakr condemned it. ‘Uqbah said, “O Caliph of the messenger of Allah, they do that to us!” Abu Bakr said, “You follow the way of the Persians and Romans? Rather, do not come to me with a severed head. It is enough for you to write and inform me.”
(Sunan Saʻīd ibn Manṣur-2490-graded sahih by Ibn Kathir in Al Muhdath-2/324)
Sulaiman bin Buraid through his father that when the Messenger of Allah (sal) said in a long hadith,
"Do not embezzle the spoils; do not break your pledge; and do not mutilate (the dead) bodies; do not kill the children."
(Sahih Muslim)
All of the above evidence clearly prove that it is haram to mutilate the dead especially those who are killed in a war unless it is done for a necessity such as in the case of an autopsy. There is nothing wrong in a person consensually donating his organs.
5. Silence is from the Mercy of Allah
Islam is silent on organ donation and silence is from the mercy of Allah.
Abu Darda (rali) narrated: The Messenger of Allah (sal) said,
“What Allah has made lawful in his book is lawful, and what he has made unlawful is unlawful. Whatever he has remained silent upon, it is for your benefit, so accept benefit from Allah. Verily, Allah is not forgetful.” Then the Prophet recited the verse, “Your Lord is not forgetful.” (19:64)
(Darqutni-graded sahih by Albani)
6. Donating Organs Means Saving Lives.
Donating organs is saving lives of people and Allah says in the Quran,
"And whoever saves a life it is as though he had saved the lives of all mankind" (5:32)
Based on the above proofs from the Quran and the Authen tic hadiths, it is clear organ donation is not haram in Islam.
Organ donation is quite a controversial topic among scholars of Islam and this controversy has resulted in a difference of opinion among them. There is no direct evidence from the Quran or authentic hadiths proving that organ do nation is haram. Below are the five evidence from the Quran and the authentic hadiths on why organ donation is halal in Islam .
1. Separating the opinions from the actual evidence
For us to rely on something in Islam, we need to only rely on the two authentic sources namely, the Quran and the authentic hadiths of the prophet (sal). Allah (swt) says:
"If you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger (sal), if you believe in Allah and in the Last Day.”
(Al-Quran-4:59).
As far as the Quran an d the authentic hadiths is concerned, Islam is silence on the issue of organ donation. There are various opinion s by scholars statin g that organ donation is haram but these are based only on the personal opinions of those respective scholars.
2. Is Organ Donation Mentioned in the in the Quran?
As far as the Quran is concerned there is no clear evidence to prove that organ donation is haram. The Quran is actually silent on this topic. However there is one verse that has been used as an argument against organ donation where Allah (swt) says,
"And we have certainly honoured the children of Adam and carried them on the land and sea and provided for them of the good things and preferred them over much of what we have created, with preference."
(Al-Quran-17:70)
This verse has nothing to do with organ donation but is used as an argument to mean that man is honoured and cutting the body is a form of dishonouring man who is Allah's creation. The Quran actually encourages saving lives and Allah (swt) said,
"And if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of all mankind."
(Al-Quran-5:32)
Organ donation is a medically proven method that helps cure certain disease and ailments and this proves that the Quran does not forbid organ donation as long as it does not cause any harm to the living person and if it is consensual.
3. Organ Donation in the Hadiths
As far as the hadiths are concerned there is no direct evidence prohibiting organ donation but there is one hadith that is used by scholars who are against organ donation and the hadith is as follows,
Aisha (rali) narrated, the prophet (sal) said,
“Breaking a dead man's bone is like breaking it when he is alive"
(Abu Dawud-graded sahih by Albani)
Umm Salamah (rali) narrated that the prophet (sal) said,
"Breaking the bones of the deceased is, in sin, like breaking his bones when he is alive.”
(Ibn Majah-graded sahih by Imam Nawawi in Khulaasat al-Ahkam (3/1035) and by Sheikh al-Albani in al-Irwa’ (763))
These hadiths only specifically mention the prohibition of breaking bones of the dead especially during war and organs such as kidneys, liver or heart does not require breaking bones. The above hadiths emphasize respecting the dead and not harming the dead body by cutting g off limbs. What is mentioned in the above hadiths has only to do with mutilating dead bodies and has nothing to do with organ donation. The below hadiths explain s this further in details,
4. Organ donation vs Mutilation
Narrated `Abdullah bin Yazid Al-Ansari (rali),
"The Prophet (sal) forbade robbery (taking away what belongs to others without their permission), and also forbade mutilation (or maiming) of bodies."
(Bukhari)
Narrated Samurah ibn Jundub (rali),
"I came to Samurah ibn Jundub and asked him. He said: The Messenger of Allah (sal) used to exhort us to give alms (sadaqah) and forbid us to mutilate (a slain). I then came to Imran ibn Husayn and asked him. He said: The Messenger of Allah (sal) used to exhort us to give alms (sadaqah) and forbid us to mutilate (a slain)."
(Abu Dawud-graded sahih by Albani)
Uqbah ibn ‘Amir reported: He came to Abu Bakr (rali) with a severed head and Abu Bakr condemned it. ‘Uqbah said, “O Caliph of the messenger of Allah, they do that to us!” Abu Bakr said, “You follow the way of the Persians and Romans? Rather, do not come to me with a severed head. It is enough for you to write and inform me.”
(Sunan Saʻīd ibn Manṣur-2490-graded sahih by Ibn Kathir in Al Muhdath-2/324)
Sulaiman bin Buraid through his father that when the Messenger of Allah (sal) said in a long hadith,
"Do not embezzle the spoils; do not break your pledge; and do not mutilate (the dead) bodies; do not kill the children."
(Sahih Muslim)
All of the above evidence clearly prove that it is haram to mutilate the dead especially those who are killed in a war unless it is done for a necessity such as in the case of an autopsy. There is nothing wrong in a person consensually donating his organs.
5. Silence is from the Mercy of Allah
Islam is silent on organ donation and silence is from the mercy of Allah.
Abu Darda (rali) narrated: The Messenger of Allah (sal) said,
“What Allah has made lawful in his book is lawful, and what he has made unlawful is unlawful. Whatever he has remained silent upon, it is for your benefit, so accept benefit from Allah. Verily, Allah is not forgetful.” Then the Prophet recited the verse, “Your Lord is not forgetful.” (19:64)
(Darqutni-graded sahih by Albani)
6. Donating Organs Means Saving Lives.
Donating organs is saving lives of people and Allah says in the Quran,
"And whoever saves a life it is as though he had saved the lives of all mankind" (5:32)
Based on the above proofs from the Quran and the Authen tic hadiths, it is clear organ donation is not haram in Islam.