Excerpt Source: Aḥkām wa Masā’il fī Ḍaw’ al-Kitāb wa al-Sunnah
By: Shaykh Mubashshir Aḥmad Rabbānī
What is the ruling on donating blood to a Muslim patient?
If, in a situation of necessity, qualified physicians determine that a patient requires a blood transfusion, then:
✔ Donating blood is permissible in Sharī‘ah.
Allah says:
﴿وَقَدْ فَصَّلَ لَكُم مَّا حَرَّمَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِلَّا مَا اضْطُرِرْتُمْ إِلَيْهِ﴾
“He has explained to you in detail what He has forbidden to you—except under compulsion of necessity.”
[Surah al-Anʿām: 119]
And elsewhere:
﴿غَيْرَ بَاغٍ وَلَا عَادٍ فَلَا إِثْمَ عَلَيْهِ﴾
“Provided he does not intend disobedience or transgress the limits, there is no sin upon him.”
[Surah al-Baqarah: 173]
These verses clarify that in emergency situations, even matters normally forbidden become permissible, but only to the extent of necessity.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"المسلم أخو المسلم، لا يَظلِمُه ولا يُسلِمُه، ومن كان في حاجة أخيه كان الله في حاجته"
“A Muslim is the brother of another Muslim; he does not oppress him, nor does he hand him over. Whoever fulfills the need of his brother, Allah will fulfill his need.”
✔ In a state of medical necessity, donating blood to a Muslim patient is permissible and encouraged in Islam.
✔ It fulfills a critical need, aligns with the principle of helping fellow Muslims, and falls under the allowances granted in dire circumstances.
(Wa-Allāhu A‘lam — And Allah knows best.)
By: Shaykh Mubashshir Aḥmad Rabbānī
❖ Question:
What is the ruling on donating blood to a Muslim patient?
❖ Permissibility in Case of Medical Necessity
If, in a situation of necessity, qualified physicians determine that a patient requires a blood transfusion, then:
✔ Donating blood is permissible in Sharī‘ah.
Qur’anic Proofs
Allah says:
﴿وَقَدْ فَصَّلَ لَكُم مَّا حَرَّمَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِلَّا مَا اضْطُرِرْتُمْ إِلَيْهِ﴾
“He has explained to you in detail what He has forbidden to you—except under compulsion of necessity.”
[Surah al-Anʿām: 119]
And elsewhere:
﴿غَيْرَ بَاغٍ وَلَا عَادٍ فَلَا إِثْمَ عَلَيْهِ﴾
“Provided he does not intend disobedience or transgress the limits, there is no sin upon him.”
[Surah al-Baqarah: 173]
These verses clarify that in emergency situations, even matters normally forbidden become permissible, but only to the extent of necessity.
Hadith Evidence
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"المسلم أخو المسلم، لا يَظلِمُه ولا يُسلِمُه، ومن كان في حاجة أخيه كان الله في حاجته"
“A Muslim is the brother of another Muslim; he does not oppress him, nor does he hand him over. Whoever fulfills the need of his brother, Allah will fulfill his need.”
Reference: Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Maẓālim, Bāb Lā Yaẓlim al-Muslim al-Muslim wa Lā Yuslimuhu, Ḥadīth: 2442
❖ Conclusion
✔ In a state of medical necessity, donating blood to a Muslim patient is permissible and encouraged in Islam.
✔ It fulfills a critical need, aligns with the principle of helping fellow Muslims, and falls under the allowances granted in dire circumstances.
(Wa-Allāhu A‘lam — And Allah knows best.)
