Organ Donation Not Against Islamic Teachings

Muslims should not be apprehensive about organ donation to help others in need as it does not contravene Islamic teachings and in fact, deemed "harus" (proper).

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Dr Abdullah Md Zin said that more than 30 years ago, the National Fatwa Council had stipulated the guidelines on organ donation based on four considerations.

The first consideration is that the situation is urgent, whereby the patient's life hinges on the organ transplant which is felt to have a good chance of being successful.

The second consideration, such as in the case of a heart transplant, is that the donor must be confirmed dead.

The third consideration is that there is no element of trade or sale and purchase of the human organ, and lastly, permission must first be obtained from the organ donor or the donor's family in the case of sudden death, like in a road accident. Dr Abdullah said it was also allowed and proper in Islam for Muslims to help save the lives of non-Muslims by donating their organs for transplant.

"We had issued the `fatwa' (edict) on organ transplant at the National Fatwa Council's deliberations on Oct 1 and 2, 1970, and the issue was again discussed in 1973. "It was decided then that the transplant of human organs such as heart and eyes are allowed in Islam and deemed proper.

"The `fatwa' in still applicable, so there's no need for a new fatwa on the issue," he told reporters in response to prevailing doubts among Muslims over organ donation.

The difficulty in getting organ donors had resulted in 14-year-old heart patient Tee Hui Yi having to wait a year for a heart transplant. The girl had only one more year to get a donor as the mechanical heart fitted to her could only last two years.

On the deviant group, Al-Arqam, which is believed to be active again, Dr Abdullah said the state religious authorities had been told to monitor its activities. He said the Internal Security Ministry could also take action against the movement in certain situations, like detaining the members under the Internal Security Act if they were found to be a threat to national security. (Bernama)

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