Short answer
Scholars differ. Many Deobandi scholars, including Mufti Muhammad Shafi, hold that donating organs is not allowed, because the body is a trust from Allah and keeps its honour after death. Other major bodies, such as the OIC Islamic Fiqh Academy, allow donation from the living and the dead under strict conditions. Selling organs is haram by agreement.
The traditional Deobandi position is that donating organs, in life or after death, is not permissible, since the body is an amanah (trust) and its honour remains after death. Some later Hanafi scholars allow a living donation to save a life, such as a kidney for a relative, when it does not seriously endanger the donor. Receiving an organ in dire need is treated by many as a case of necessity.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
Organ transplantation is a modern question with no classical ruling. The difference of opinion runs among contemporary scholars of every school rather than between the four schools, and it is a respected difference.
The view that it is not allowed. Mufti Muhammad Shafi's treatise on transplantation, Darul Uloom Deoband and many Hanafi muftis argue that a person does not own their body, so they cannot give it away. Allah has honoured the human being, and the Prophet ﷺ said that breaking the bone of a dead person is like breaking it while alive. Classical Hanafi texts do not allow using any human part, even for treatment, out of that honour. Blood is an exception because the body replaces it.
The view that it is allowed. The OIC Islamic Fiqh Academy and many scholars in the Arab world and the West hold that saving a life is a greater good, citing the verse that saving one life is like saving all mankind. They set conditions:
- no sale or payment for the organ
- the donor's free consent, or consent given before death
- for a living donor, no serious harm to the donor's life or health
- for a deceased donor, death established by reliable specialists
- a good prospect of benefit for the recipient
Some countries now presume you consent to donation unless you opt out, so record your decision whichever view you follow. Follow the scholars you trust, and for a specific decision, such as donating a kidney to a family member, ask a mufti with the doctors' advice.
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 the main argument of those who forbid donation.
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.
Saving life is the main argument of those who permit it.
Sunan Abi Dawud 3207
Graded sahih... كسر عظم الميت ككسره حيا ...
"Breaking the bone of a dead person is like breaking it while he is alive."
The body keeps its sanctity after death, which is why many Hanafi scholars do not allow posthumous donation.
Sahih Muslim 2199
Sahih... من استطاع منكم أن ينفع أخاه فليفعل ...
"Whoever among you is able to benefit his brother, let him do so."
Cited by those who permit donation as a way of benefiting others.
Where the ruling is recorded
- Jawahir al-Fiqh (Mufti Muhammad Shafi), Treatise on blood transfusion and organ transplantation. Organ donation is not permissible because of the honour of the human body; blood is an exception.
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Buyu, Bab al-Bay al-Fasid. Human parts may not be sold or used, because the human being is honoured.
- Resolutions of the Islamic Fiqh Academy (OIC), Resolution on transplanting organs from one person to another. Allows donation from the living and the dead under conditions, and forbids selling organs.
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.