Is it permissible for a person to donate one of his organs, given the possibility that he may expose himself to illness, in exchange for saving his Muslim brother?
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The questioner : And is it permissible, O Shaykh, for a person to expose himself to destruction? For example, if his exposure to destruction is because there is a possibility—meaning a likelihood of harm befalling the donor—but it is certain, for instance, that by exposing himself to destruction he will save his brother?
The Shaykh : The possibility is sufficient, may Allah reward you. With the observation of why the Exalted and Majestic created two kidneys, and then we do not stop at donating a kidney. What is your opinion if a person volunteers his arm?! Why do we address what people are turning to, and why do we not also look into the two organs that Allah the Exalted and Majestic created for the wisdom we mentioned earlier?!
The questioner : The difference is that the arm is not a necessity for the person in his life, whereas the life of the patient may depend on, for example, the kidney, so he may be exposed to, for example, destruction.
The Shaykh : How?
The questioner : Meaning his exposure to death, so if the person donates to him!
The Shaykh : Is his exposure to death certain, or is it a preponderant assumption?
The questioner : According to the doctors, they may confirm it.
The Shaykh : So what do the doctors do today?!
When they say this kidney is diseased and he may be exposed to death, which is what they judge, then you are now distinguishing between volunteering a kidney and volunteering an arm. So if there is a person whose arms are cut off, is it permissible for a person with two arms to volunteer an arm, or for a person whose legs are cut off to volunteer a leg for him, and so on?!
Opening this door, my brother, leads to a problem that contradicts the wisdom of Allah first, and then it makes a person expose himself to destruction, even if it is only by assumption, as you indicated in your previous speech. So it is not befitting for us to allow this, especially given the warning you mentioned earlier.
The Shaykh : The possibility is sufficient, may Allah reward you. With the observation of why the Exalted and Majestic created two kidneys, and then we do not stop at donating a kidney. What is your opinion if a person volunteers his arm?! Why do we address what people are turning to, and why do we not also look into the two organs that Allah the Exalted and Majestic created for the wisdom we mentioned earlier?!
The questioner : The difference is that the arm is not a necessity for the person in his life, whereas the life of the patient may depend on, for example, the kidney, so he may be exposed to, for example, destruction.
The Shaykh : How?
The questioner : Meaning his exposure to death, so if the person donates to him!
The Shaykh : Is his exposure to death certain, or is it a preponderant assumption?
The questioner : According to the doctors, they may confirm it.
The Shaykh : So what do the doctors do today?!
When they say this kidney is diseased and he may be exposed to death, which is what they judge, then you are now distinguishing between volunteering a kidney and volunteering an arm. So if there is a person whose arms are cut off, is it permissible for a person with two arms to volunteer an arm, or for a person whose legs are cut off to volunteer a leg for him, and so on?!
Opening this door, my brother, leads to a problem that contradicts the wisdom of Allah first, and then it makes a person expose himself to destruction, even if it is only by assumption, as you indicated in your previous speech. So it is not befitting for us to allow this, especially given the warning you mentioned earlier.