Short answer
No, donating plasma is allowed on the same basis as giving blood: it helps patients and the body replaces it. The problem is selling it. Hanafi scholars hold that parts of the human body are not for sale, so you should not give plasma for the money. Ask a mufti if a centre pays you.
Donating plasma for patients is permissible, like blood donation. Selling it is not, because the human body and its parts are not property that can be sold; taking money as the price of plasma is not allowed.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
Plasma is the liquid part of the blood. It is given to patients with burns, bleeding and immune disorders, and it is used to make medicines. Donating it is helping the sick in the same way as giving blood, which Hanafi scholars allow because the body replaces it and no limb is cut. See is it haram to donate blood.
The question most people are really asking is about money. In the US, many plasma centres pay donors for each visit. The Prophet ﷺ forbade the price of blood, and the Hanafi texts say that no part of a human being may be sold, because Allah has honoured the children of Adam. Calling the payment compensation does not change much when it is paid per donation. The safer course is to donate where you are not paid, or to decline the payment.
If you have taken payment for plasma in the past, stop, and ask a mufti what to do with the money you received. The four schools agree that the human body is not a commodity, and contemporary scholars of all schools allow donation as a gift.
Look after your health too. Follow the centre's limits on how often you donate, eat and drink well, and stop if it leaves you unwell, since harming yourself is not allowed. As with blood, plasma donation breaks wudu in the Hanafi school, and it is best avoided while fasting if it will weaken you.
Ask a mufti about your own case. This answer explains the general ruling. When the details of your situation matter, as they do here, ask a qualified mufti and give them the full facts. Where to ask a scholar.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Israa 17:70
۞ وَلَقَدْ كَرَّمْنَا بَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ وَحَمَلْنَٰهُمْ فِى ٱلْبَرِّ وَٱلْبَحْرِ وَرَزَقْنَٰهُم مِّنَ ٱلطَّيِّبَٰتِ وَفَضَّلْنَٰهُمْ عَلَىٰ كَثِيرٍۢ مِّمَّنْ خَلَقْنَا تَفْضِيلًۭا ﴿٧٠﴾
And We have certainly honored the children of Adam and carried them on the land and sea and provided for them of the good things and preferred them over much of what We have created, with [definite] preference.
Human honour is why body parts are not sold.
Quran, Surah Al-Baqara 2:195
وَأَنفِقُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا تُلْقُوا۟ بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى ٱلتَّهْلُكَةِ ۛ وَأَحْسِنُوٓا۟ ۛ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ ﴿١٩٥﴾
And spend in the way of Allah and do not throw [yourselves] with your [own] hands into destruction [by refraining]. And do good; indeed, Allah loves the doers of good.
Donating so often that it harms you is not allowed.
Sahih al-Bukhari 2238
Sahih... إن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم نهى عن ثمن الدم ...
"Abu Juhayfah said: The Messenger of Allah forbade the price of blood."
Selling blood, and by extension plasma, is forbidden.
Sahih Muslim 2586
Sahih... مثل المؤمنين في توادهم وتراحمهم وتعاطفهم ...
"The believers in their love, mercy and compassion for one another are like one body."
Giving plasma as a gift to help the sick is part of this mercy.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Buyu, Bab al-Bay al-Fasid. Selling human hair or using it is not allowed, because the human being is honoured, and none of his parts are to be treated as goods.
- Jawahir al-Fiqh (Mufti Muhammad Shafi), Treatise on blood transfusion and organ transplantation. Blood may be donated for need but not sold.
This answer is pending review by the scholars on our team. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.