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Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(2): “Ruling on Donating Corneas ”

Date Added : 25-01-2018

Resolution No.(2) by the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies: "Ruling on Donating Corneas"

Date: 11/7/1404 AH; 11/4/1984 AD

 

Question:

What is the ruling on people who donate their corneas, after their death, to the blind?

Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah; and may His blessings and peace be upon Prophet Mohammad and upon all his Family and Companions.

Principles of Islamic law permit making use of the dead peoples` corneas, by transplanting them in the eyes of the blind, or those in danger of becoming blind, within the following conditions:

1- Confirming the death of the donor.

2- Doctors assuming that the transplanting of the corneas will most probably be a success.

3- The deceased had given permission before he/she died, or his heirs permitted it.

Amongst the evidences, derived from Islamic law, permitting this matter are:

First: Transplanting organs from the deceased to the living safeguards human beings, which is one of the aims of Islamic law (Sharia).

Second: Undoubtedly, blindness, or losing sight is a damage that befalls a human being, and preventing it is a necessity, in Islamic law, that allows transplanting corneas of the deceased in the eyes of the living, and this goes in line with the agreed upon jurisprudential rulings such as: "Necessity knows no prohibitions.", "Necessity is assessed by its degree, and “The milder of two harms is permissible in case of necessity."

Third: Transplanting the cornea of a deceased person in the eyes of a blind living person to regain his/her sight isn`t the kind of mutilation which has been forbidden by the Prophet (PBUH). He (PBUH) forbade the mutilation which humiliates the dead person and violates his/her honor. In light of Islamic Sharia, the dead person is honored by having donated his/her cornea since he/she will receive a recompense from Almighty Allah. Similarly, the living is honored by regaining his/her sight, enjoying this favor bestowed upon him/her from Almighty Allah and thanking Him for it.

Therefore, Muslim jurists permit cutting open the belly of a dead pregnant woman in order to save her fetus who is most probably alive. They also permit cutting open the belly of a deceased who had swallowed the money of another person. They interpreted this permission as follows: "Honoring the living and safeguarding him/her take precedence over safeguarding the dead from mutilation ." Almighty Allah Said in the Holy Quran (What means): "Nor are alike those that are living and those that are dead." [Fatir/22].

Fourth: Islamic Sharia encouraged people to seek treatment for the Prophet (PBUH) said: "Allah has sent down ailment and cure, and made a cure for each ailment, so seek treatment, but avoid forbidden cures." Transplanting corneas of the dead in the eyes of the living is an act of treatment.

Fifth: Donating corneas to the blind is from charity that Sharia encouraged giving to those in need, for a blind person`s need for sight is greater than a poor person`s need for money, and his (the blind) need for food and drink. Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) said in this regard: "If anyone relieves a Muslim believer from one of the hardships of this worldly life, Allah will relieve him of one of the hardships of the Day of Resurrection. If anyone makes it easy for the one who is indebted to him (while finding it difficult to repay), Allah will make it easy for him in this worldly life and in the Hereafter, and if anyone conceals the faults of a Muslim, Allah will conceal his faults in this world and in the Hereafter. Allah helps His slave as long as he helps his brother.” [Moslim]. And Allah Knows Best.

 

The Fatwa Committee

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Summarized Fatawaa

Which is more excellent for a woman: to pray in the mosque or in her house?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Our Master the Prophet ﷺ said: 'It is more excellent for a woman to pray in her house than in her courtyard, and more excellent for her to pray in her private chamber than in her house.' Therefore, a woman’s adherence to her home and her refraining from going to the mosques—in obedience to the command of Allah the Exalted—attains a great reward and abundant recompense. Furthermore, women praying in congregation within their homes is better than their attendance at the mosques, based on the aforementioned Hadith. And Allah the Exalted knows best.

What is the ruling on having an intention (Niyyah) for every prayer?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Intention (Niyyah) is a pillar (Rukn) without which the prayer is not valid. The worshiper must have an intention for every prayer, meaning they must consciously intend the act of worship they are performing. Its timing must coincide with the opening Takbir (Takbirat al-Ihram). It is not a requirement to utter it verbally; rather, doing so is considered a recommended Sunnah. There are three levels of intention:
 
1-If the prayer is obligatory (Fard): It is mandatory to include the Intent (to pray), the Specification (which prayer, e.g., 'Asr), and the Obligation (recognizing it as a Fard). For example, one should bring to mind or say: 'I intend to pray the Fard of 'Asr.'
 
2-If it is a voluntary prayer restricted by a specific time or cause (Sunnah Muqayyadah): It is mandatory to include the Intent and the Specification. For example: 'I intend to pray the Sunnah before Zuhr' or 'I intend to pray Duha.'
 
3-If it is an absolute voluntary prayer (Nafl Mutlaq): It is sufficient to simply have the Intent to pray. For example: 'I intend to pray.'
 
And Allah the Exalted knows best.

Is it permissible to sacrifice imported livestock (Such as Romanian, Australian, etc.)?

 

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
As long as the sheep meets the prescribed Sharia age and is free from disqualifying defects, it is valid for sacrifice regardless of its country of origin. Therefore, it is permissible to offer sacrifices from various sources, such as: Romanian, Australian, Spanish, Indian, Sudanese, local (Baladi) livestock, and others. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling on a person who insists on praying in a specific spot and becomes angry if someone else prays there?

ruling on a person who persists in praying in a specific spot and becomes angry if someone else occupies it

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Our Master the Prophet ﷺ forbade a man from habitually claiming a specific spot in the mosque as a camel claims its place (to sit); scholars consider this to be among the disliked matters (Makruhat). It is therefore obligatory to advise this individual that whoever arrives at a spot first has the most right to it. And Allah the Exalted knows best.

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