Organ Donation at Death
Question:
Assalamualaikum wa rahmatullah,
While renewing our driving license both myself and my wife ticked the box to allow organ transplant from our bodies upon our deaths. Recently listening to someone who stated his view that our rooh (spirit) doesn't leave our body until we are buried and therefore any organs removal after death and before burial will cause pain, has made us think again. Our view was simple at the time we ticked the box, was to allow our organs to help someone else after we are dead, but now I'm confused. Please help me with your views and advise.
Many thanks.
Answer:
Assalamu Alaykum,
There is nothing in the reliable sources of Islam to suggest that our soul does not leave our body until it is buried. Without any reliable source no such claim can be credited. Even for the sake of argument if we accept this, it still does not mean that every part of the body needs to be buried for the soul to leave it. This is only a conjecture.
While the above is a baseless view, we are absolutely sure based on the principles of the Islam that any effort to help a human being, when done with correct intentions, will be hugely rewarded. Organ donation is one of the most crucial helps that a person may provide for another human being.
In view of the above I suggest you keep the arrangements as they are and be hopeful that you will insha’Allah receive a huge reward for your good intentions, even if the organ donation never happens.
-------
Farhad Shafti
July 2014
Assalamualaikum wa rahmatullah,
While renewing our driving license both myself and my wife ticked the box to allow organ transplant from our bodies upon our deaths. Recently listening to someone who stated his view that our rooh (spirit) doesn't leave our body until we are buried and therefore any organs removal after death and before burial will cause pain, has made us think again. Our view was simple at the time we ticked the box, was to allow our organs to help someone else after we are dead, but now I'm confused. Please help me with your views and advise.
Many thanks.
Answer:
Assalamu Alaykum,
There is nothing in the reliable sources of Islam to suggest that our soul does not leave our body until it is buried. Without any reliable source no such claim can be credited. Even for the sake of argument if we accept this, it still does not mean that every part of the body needs to be buried for the soul to leave it. This is only a conjecture.
While the above is a baseless view, we are absolutely sure based on the principles of the Islam that any effort to help a human being, when done with correct intentions, will be hugely rewarded. Organ donation is one of the most crucial helps that a person may provide for another human being.
In view of the above I suggest you keep the arrangements as they are and be hopeful that you will insha’Allah receive a huge reward for your good intentions, even if the organ donation never happens.
-------
Farhad Shafti
July 2014
