Question:

As we know, blood banks throughout the world do not pay attention to the religion and nationality of the patients. They spare no effort in making blood and its components available to save the lives of patients with Allah’s Help. Blood banks welcome blood donors of different nationalities and religions.

A) Is it permissible for a Muslim blood donor to stipulate that blood banks are not to use or donate their blood except to a Muslim patient?

B) Is it permissible for patients to stipulate to have blood transfusion only from Muslim donors?

C) Is it permissible for blood banks not to pay attention to the issue of religion as they currently do? They deal with all patients and blood donors equally and transfuse the blood of a Muslim or non-Muslim into any patient, Muslim or non-Muslim.

Please take into consideration that there are critical cases which cannot wait until such matters are considered and they need blood transfusion as soon as possible?

Answer:

This condition is not necessary except in the case of donating blood to non-Muslim enemy warriors which is not permissible, because it is not permissible to help them survive; rather, they should be killed. However, the Muslim, Dhimmy (protected non-Muslim living under Islamic rule), and Mu`ahad (non-Muslim in a temporary covenant with Muslims), all can benefit from donated blood and there is nothing wrong with this.

Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta’

Member Member Member Deputy Chairman Chairman
Bakr Abu Zayd Salih Al-Fawzan `Abdullah ibn Ghudayyan `Abdul-`Aziz ibn `Abdullah ibn Muhammad Al Al-Shaykh `Abdul-`Aziz ibn `Abdullah ibn Baz