On April 10, 2025, a seminar at Dow University of Health Sciences in Karachi brought together leading Islamic scholars and medical professionals to discuss the ethical and religious aspects of organ donation. A joint statement at the end of the event confirmed that Islam allows the donation of organs after death, especially in cases of brain death, in order to preserve or enhance the lives of others.
The declaration emphasized that donating organs posthumously, with proper consent and ethical compliance, is not only allowed but also considered an act of sadaqah jariyah (ongoing charity) in Islamic teachings. Scholars highlighted the need to raise awareness among Muslims about the permissibility and spiritual rewards associated with organ donation.
Council of Islamic Ideology Chairman Allama Raghib Hussain Naeemi stated that once brain death is medically confirmed, removing life support becomes permissible, and organ donation can proceed with prior consent or the family’s approval. Other scholars, including Allama Muhammad Khan Sherani and Allama Shahenshah Naqvi, echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the importance of honesty, fairness, and the sanctity of human life in such decisions.
The seminar also addressed emerging medical advancements, such as xenotransplantation (transplanting animal organs into humans), with scholars agreeing that saving human life takes precedence, provided the dignity of the deceased is preserved.
