Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(257): "Conditions for Donating Organs"

Date Added : 15-05-2018

Resolution No.(257)(10 /2018) by the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies:

"Conditions for Donating Organs"

Date: 3/Sha`ban/1439 AH, corresponding to 19/4/2018 AD.

 

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

During its fifth session held on the Above date, the Board reviewed the letter sent from His Excellency, Minister of Health, Dr. Mahmoud Ash-Shiab, and read as follows: I would like to bring to your Grace`s attention the fact that condition (3)-mentioned in Resolution No.(215), (5/2015), dated 21/Ramadan/1436 AH, corresponding to 8/7/2015 AD, issued by the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies: "Conditions that Permit Kidney Donation", stated: "There should be no material benefit behind this donation, and this should be ascertained through the medical, legal, and supervisory bodies. They have the right to confine the donation in accordance with the degree of kinship that they see fit. This depends on the facts that they arrive at, and what they see fit for making benefit and warding off harm." This very condition wasn`t mentioned in the Board`s Resolution No.(166)(7/2011):"Ruling of Sharia on Donating Part of the Liver", dated: 26/8/1432 AH, corresponding to 28/7/2011 AD.

Does this condition apply on donating part of the liver and other organs?

Based on the above, could Your Grace discuss this matter with the Iftaa` Board in order to deliver the proper Fatwa in this regard, including any necessary conditions, so as for this Fatwa to become reliable. This in accordance with the provisions of Article No.(3/A/1) - Benefiting from organs law and its amendments - No.(23) /1977). See attached copy.

After deliberating, the Board decided:

Organ donation is amongst the recommended charitable deeds so long as the conditions of Sharia stipulated in this regard are met. This is because it saves patient`s lives and relieves their pains. Allah, The Almighty, Says in this regard {what means}: “and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people.” {Al-Mai`dah/32}.

The Sharia conditions in this regard are:

First: The donor should be competent, with making sure of his willingness to do so and that he isn`t being used; particularly if that person is a woman.

Second: It has been medically proven that the organ transplant is a success and useful to the patient, and that the donor`s health won`t be jeopardized, because the Sharia maxim states: “Harm shouldn`t be eliminated with a reciprocal harm.” Therefore, specialized expert doctors must be sure with certainty about the success of this procedure in every case.

Third: There should be no material benefit behind this donation, and this should be ascertained through the medical, legal, and supervisory bodies. They have the right to confine the donation in accordance with the degree of kinship that they see fit. This depends on the facts that they arrive at, and what they see fit for making benefit and warding off harm.

Fourth: All other treatments and medical procedures have been tested. And Allah Knows Best.

 

Chairman of Iftaa` Board,

Grand Mufti of Jordan,

Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalayleh

Sheikh Abdulkareem Al-Khasawneh, Member

Dr. Ahmad Al-Hasanat, Member

Dr. Majid Darawsheh, Member

Sheikh Sa`eid Al-Hijjawi, Member

Prof. Abdullah Al-Fawaz, Member

Judge Khalid Woraikat,    Member

Dr. Mohammad al-Zou`bi, Member

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling on selling sacrificial animals (udhiyah) described with specific attributes and authorizing an agent to slaughter them?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Selling sacrificial animals (udhiyah) that are described with specific attributes is permissible. This falls under the category of a salam sale (forward sale) if conducted using the terminology of salam, and under the category of a regular sale if not using the terminology of salam.
 
As for authorizing the seller to slaughter the sacrificial animal, the basic principle is that it is permissible, because the agent (wakil) stands in the place of the principal (muwakkil) in achieving his objective. This is a contract that the principal (the buyer) is entitled to perform himself, so authorizing another (the seller) to do so on his behalf is valid.
 
However, it is a condition for authorization to slaughter that the intention (niyyah) is present either at the time of slaughter or at the time of handing over the sacrificial animal to the agent. The basic principle is that the sacrificial animal must be specifically designated, as it is an act of worship. It is not required to designate it at the time of slaughter; rather, it is valid to do so before that.
 
It is permissible for the principal either to delegate the intention to the agent or to formulate it himself when authorizing the agent to slaughter. However, the sacrificial animal must be designated, even if at the time of slaughter, by the agent.
 
It is obligatory to designate the sacrificial animals so that each person offering a sacrifice receives his own specific animal. Therefore, charitable organizations and companies must take this into consideration and establish a specific mechanism that ensures no mixing of sacrificial animals occurs, so that each person offering a sacrifice receives his own designated animal. And Allah Almighty knows best.

Is it permissible to purchase the Udhiyah on installments?

It is permissible to purchase the sacrificial animal (uḍḥiyyah) on installments or by borrowing its price. However, it is not recommended for the poor to do so, because they are not required to offer a sacrifice, and Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity. If doing so would lead to negligence in providing for one's dependents (nafaqah wājibah), then giving precedence to obligatory maintenance over borrowing to buy the sacrifice is appropriate. This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): "It is sufficient sin for a person to withhold food from those whom he is responsible to support."
 
Furthermore, the sacrifice is valid from one who has a debt, but it is preferable (awlā) to repay the debt first, especially if the debt is due immediately (ḥāll). And Allah Almighty knows best.

Is it permissible to pay the Zakah (obligatory charity) for settling the debt of a deceased relative?

It is impermissible to pay the Zakah for settling the debt of the deceased since Zakah is paid to eligible recipients who are alive. As for the debts of the deceased, they are to be settled from the estate before dividing it amongst the heirs, but if the deceased didn`t leave an estate, then it is desirable for his/her heirs to settle those debts if they can afford them. And Allah Knows Best.

I`m a pious Muslim woman, but my husband isn`t, what should I do?

You should exercise patience, make supplication that Allah guides him to the straight path, and keep advising him kindly.