Short answer
No. Donating blood is permissible, and it is a great reward when it helps save a life. Hanafi scholars allow it when patients need it and it does not harm the donor, and you may give it to non-Muslims too. It should be given freely, not sold. The four schools agree.
Permissible because of need, and rewarded as helping to save life. Blood is impure and not property, so selling it is not allowed; a patient who cannot get blood any other way may pay for it, and the sin of the price falls on the seller.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
The Quran says that whoever saves one life, it is as if he had saved all of mankind. Giving blood is one of the simplest ways an ordinary person can take part in that. The Prophet ﷺ compared the believers to one body: when one part suffers, the whole body responds.
The well-known Hanafi ruling, set out by Mufti Muhammad Shafi, explains why blood is treated differently from organs. Normally no part of a human being may be used by another, out of respect for the body. Blood, however, is taken without cutting or removing any limb, and the body replaces it, much like the milk of a nursing woman, which may be given to a baby who is not her own. So taking it for a patient in need is allowed.
Practical points people ask about:
- Wudu: in the Hanafi school, blood that flows from the body breaks wudu, so renew it before your next prayer. See how to make wudu.
- Fasting: giving blood does not break the fast in the Hanafi school, but it is disliked if it will make you too weak to fast. See what breaks your fast.
- Non-Muslim recipients: allowed, as kindness to any human being in need.
- Blood banks: donating for future patients is allowed, since the need is constant.
Give blood freely as sadaqah. Do not sell it, and follow the donor centre's health checks so that you do not harm yourself. For plasma, see is donating plasma haram.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Maaida 5:32
مِنْ أَجْلِ ذَٰلِكَ كَتَبْنَا عَلَىٰ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ أَنَّهُۥ مَن قَتَلَ نَفْسًۢا بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ أَوْ فَسَادٍۢ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَتَلَ ٱلنَّاسَ جَمِيعًۭا وَمَنْ أَحْيَاهَا فَكَأَنَّمَآ أَحْيَا ٱلنَّاسَ جَمِيعًۭا ۚ وَلَقَدْ جَآءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُنَا بِٱلْبَيِّنَٰتِ ثُمَّ إِنَّ كَثِيرًۭا مِّنْهُم بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ لَمُسْرِفُونَ ﴿٣٢﴾
Because of that, We decreed upon the Children of Israel that whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land - it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one - it is as if he had saved mankind entirely. And our messengers had certainly come to them with clear proofs. Then indeed many of them, [even] after that, throughout the land, were transgressors.
Helping to save a life carries immense reward.
Quran, Surah Al-Maaida 5:2
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تُحِلُّوا۟ شَعَٰٓئِرَ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا ٱلشَّهْرَ ٱلْحَرَامَ وَلَا ٱلْهَدْىَ وَلَا ٱلْقَلَٰٓئِدَ وَلَآ ءَآمِّينَ ٱلْبَيْتَ ٱلْحَرَامَ يَبْتَغُونَ فَضْلًۭا مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ وَرِضْوَٰنًۭا ۚ وَإِذَا حَلَلْتُمْ فَٱصْطَادُوا۟ ۚ وَلَا يَجْرِمَنَّكُمْ شَنَـَٔانُ قَوْمٍ أَن صَدُّوكُمْ عَنِ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ أَن تَعْتَدُوا۟ ۘ وَتَعَاوَنُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلْبِرِّ وَٱلتَّقْوَىٰ ۖ وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلْإِثْمِ وَٱلْعُدْوَٰنِ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ ﴿٢﴾
O you who have believed, do not violate the rites of Allah or [the sanctity of] the sacred month or [neglect the marking of] the sacrificial animals and garlanding [them] or [violate the safety of] those coming to the Sacred House seeking bounty from their Lord and [His] approval. But when you come out of ihram, then [you may] hunt. And do not let the hatred of a people for having obstructed you from al-Masjid al-Haram lead you to transgress. And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is severe in penalty.
Giving blood is cooperation in good.
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."
Helping a sick person is part of the care believers owe each other.
Sahih Muslim 2199
Sahih... من استطاع منكم أن ينفع أخاه فليفعل ...
"Whoever among you is able to benefit his brother, let him do so."
Benefiting others through permitted means is encouraged.
Where the ruling is recorded
- Jawahir al-Fiqh (Mufti Muhammad Shafi), Treatise on blood transfusion and organ transplantation. Blood may be given to a patient in need by analogy with breast milk; selling it is not allowed.
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.