The Ruling on Donating Blood While Fasting

Question:
The floor is now open for questions, and we will begin with what is written in front of us. If there are other questions that follow later, whether written or oral, they will be accepted, if Allah wills. To start, here are a number of questions, some from the Riyadh region or the city of Riyadh, and some from certain hospitals, such as in the Al-Zulfi province, from Wadi ad-Dawasir, from Al-Muzahimiyah Hospital, and others. This question asks: Does donating blood break the fast of a fasting person or not? And if the patient in need of blood is in a critical condition, is it permissible for a fasting person to donate blood to this patient?

Answer:
Yes, drawing a large amount of blood to provide emergency care to patients or to donate it for urgent cases—drawing a large amount of blood certainly breaks the fast. This is because cupping breaks the fast, as stated in the authentic hadith:
This is because extracting blood from a person, which is the source of his nourishment and strength, weakens him. Therefore, fasting and drawing blood do not coexist for him, because this harms him.
And Allah, Mighty and Majestic, says: So drawing a large amount of blood, whether by cupping, by venesection, or by medical extraction methods, breaks the fast. However, if this is out of dire necessity, such as when there is a patient who needs emergency blood transfusion, and if he is not given blood, his life is in danger, then it is obligatory for the one who has the ability to have blood drawn from him to do so. This is to save a Muslim or a protected person from destruction, just as saving someone from drowning or from a fire is obligatory. He must allow blood to be drawn from him for the one in dire necessity, and he must make up this day. He is excused for having blood drawn from him while fasting, and for the invalidation of his fast, because this is for dire necessity. He will be rewarded for this, because it is an act of excellence (ihsan), and he must make up this day.