Is it permissible for someone to bequeath that one of his organs be donated after his death?

The Shaykh : Do you have anything else?

The questioner : The last question, if Allah wills, is the fourth, O Shaykh. A man used to bequeath that after his death, one of his body organs be donated, like those who currently donate their corneas.

The Shaykh : Yes, that is correct.

The questioner : The answer, may Allah bless you.

The Shaykh : We do not believe that this donation is permissible, because it constitutes an encroachment upon the dead, and the sanctity of the Muslim dead remains intact as if he were alive. Therefore, there are hadiths that forbid a Muslim from stepping on the grave of a Muslim, or sitting on it. Indeed, a severe warning was given, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: This is in terms of the punishment; otherwise, the dead person does not feel anything that happens to his body after he dies. But in terms of the Shari'ah ruling, breaking the bone of a dead person is like breaking it while he is alive. The question is often raised on such occasions that they perform surgical dissections to learn at the expense of the bodies of the dead. We say: No; because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: In addition to many hadiths that forbid mutilating the dead. Even a disbeliever is not to be mutilated; if a Muslim kills him, he kills him and his affair is finished. But as for disfiguring him, cutting off his ears, his nose, his organs, and so on, this is not permissible out of respect for this dead disbeliever, let alone a Muslim. So we say: if the Muslim doctor must practice on the bodies of the dead, let him stay away from the bodies of Muslims. This is because it came in an authentic narration: Up to this point, we say that if there is a possibility of practicing in dissection, this practice should be carried out on the bodies of animals as well. One should stay away from the bodies of dead disbelievers, let alone Muslims, for what I mentioned earlier regarding the fact that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade mutilation. This is the answer to the question you asked. Please, go ahead.