Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(123): "Ruling on Giving a Kidney"

Date Added : 01-12-2015

Resolution No.(123)(10/2008): "Ruling on Giving a Kidney"

Date: 29/11/1429 AH, corresponding to 27/11/2008.

 

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of The Worlds; and may his blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.

 

In its seventh meeting and on the above date, the Board reviewed the following question:

 

I`m 37 years old and have been inflicted with diabetes for twenty four years. I also suffer from kidney failure and high blood pressure. Unfortunately, I couldn`t undergo kidney transplantation because the blood group of my brothers , sisters and kinsmen differed from mine. Moreover, I have gone to Malaysia, Egypt, Syria and have contacted people in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and India; however, I wasn`t fortunate enough to undergo that surgery because the law in those countries bans giving a kidney to a person from a different nationality.

 

I would like to attract your attention to the fact that my health is on the decline and I have reports proving that.

In addition, a friend of mine is willing to give me one of his kidneys for Allah`s sake. Is it permissible for a non-relative to give his kidney to a patient because the latter`s family members have a different blood group?

After researching and deliberating, the Board decided what follows:

 

Giving a kidney to the (asker) in the above situation isn`t permissible because it is a leap in the dark, it violates Sharia, and there is an available alternative: dialysis. And Allah Knows Best.

 

Chairman of the Iftaa` Board/ His Grace Dr. Nooh Al-Qhodatt

Vice-Chairman of the Iftaa` Board, Dr. Ahmad Hilayel

Sheikh Abdulkareem Khasawneh/ Member

Sheikh Sa`eed Hijjawi/ Member

              Dr. Mohammad Khair Al-`Eesa/ Member

                                                            Judge Sari Attieh/ Member

   Dr. Abdulrahman Ibdah/ Member

                       Dr. Mohammad Oklah Al-Ibraheem/ Member

            Dr. Abdulnaser Abu Al-Basal/ Member

                            Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalayleh/ Executive Secretary of the Iftaa Board        

 

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

My father has debts and asked me to repay them years ago, and I promised him I would do so upon his death — is it permissible for me to go back on my promise given that I am unable to repay them, especially since he refuses to contribute to repayment on the grounds that the debt has become my responsibility by virtue of my promise?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
The established principle is that a father's debt is to be repaid from his own wealth, if he possesses sufficient means. As for the promise made by the son to repay it on his father's behalf, fulfilling such a promise is strongly recommended, and breaking it is considerably disliked. Shaykh al-Islām Imām al-Nawawī, may Allah have mercy upon him, states: "Fulfilling a promise is emphatically recommended, and breaking it is severely disliked. The evidences for this from the Qurʾān and the Sunnah are well known." [Rawḍat al-Ṭālibīn,Vol. 2/P.278] Shaykh al-Islām Imām Zakariyyā al-Anṣārī, may Allah have mercy upon him, further states: "The reason fulfilling a promise is not obligatory and breaking it is not forbidden is that a promise is in the nature of a gift, and a gift does not become binding except upon receipt." [Asnā al-Maṭālib fī Sharḥ Rawḍ al-Ṭālib,Vol. 2/P.487]
Given that the son does not possess the financial means to fulfil his promise to his father, breaking this promise falls beyond his capacity — and Allah does not burden a soul beyond what it can bear. Since the father himself possesses sufficient wealth to settle his own debt, repayment must be made from his own funds. Should he pass away before doing so, the debt is to be settled from his estate. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

How is the beginning of Ramadan determined?

1. Completing 30 days of Sha‘ban, or
2. Sighting the crescent moon after sunset on the 29th day of Sha‘ban.
It is Sunnah to search for the moon, and it is obligatory to follow the official authorities responsible for announcing it.

I have a brother who is harsh in his dealings [with me], and many problems have occurred between us, and I do not intend to reconcile with him. What is the ruling of Islamic Law on that?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
It is not permissible for a Muslim to abandon or boycott his fellow Muslim brother for more than three days. This is based on the saying of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him: "It is not lawful for a Muslim to forsake his brother for more than three [days], meeting each other but one turns away and the other turns away, and the better of the two is the one who initiates the greeting (salam)." (Reported by al-Bukhari.)
A Muslim must strive to end such estrangement (hajr), so as not to fall under the prohibition mentioned in the hadith. If he takes the initiative to reconcile but the other party does not respond, then there is no sin upon him. We remind [ourselves] of the saying of Allah, the Exalted: "And let them pardon and overlook. Do you not wish that Allah should forgive you? And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful." (An-Nur/22). And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

Is the marriage contract considered valid if concluded at home by the marriage official (Ma`zon)?

Yes, it is valid as long as it is registered at the court.