Religious Ruling Allows Organ Transplantation After Death Only For Immediate, Documented Need; Selling Forbidden
WORLD NEWS – SAUDI ARABIA: Religious and medical commentary clarified that organ transplantation from deceased donors is permissible only when there is an immediate, documented need at the time of death and the organ or tissue can be transferred directly to a living patient. The guidance emphasizes that procurement of organs such as kidneys, livers or hearts to satisfy an existing recipient’s urgent need is allowed, while removing body parts absent a present necessity remains prohibited under traditional juristic principles. A classical reference to the companions of early Islamic tradition was cited to underscore the principle that unnecessary removal of parts from a corpse is not acceptable.
Commentators stressed that permissibility depends on clear medical evidence and contemporaneous demand: organs may be transferred at death if a recipient is identified and clinicians certify the medical appropriateness of the graft. By contrast, donating a body to a hospital to be kept in reserve for future, unspecified needs was ruled impermissible because that scenario lacks a current, concrete necessity and could open the door to exploitation. The speakers framed this approach as an effort to balance respect for the deceased with the urgent needs of patients awaiting transplantation.
The discussion also addressed living donation and commercial pressures. Living kidney donation was described as acceptable when independent physicians confirm the donor’s remaining organ is healthy and the donor will not be harmed. Sale or trafficking in organs was condemned outright, with warnings about turning donation into commerce and calls for strict safeguards, informed consent, and oversight to prevent abuse. Observers urged clear protocols so medical teams, religious authorities, and families can act swiftly and ethically when life-saving transplantation is required.
Video originally published on 2026-01-12 08:15:10
