Skin Grafting – Islamic Perspective
The following issues were discussed by the IOMS, The Fiqh Academy at Jeddah and WHO in various meetings held between the years 1980 – 2000.
Q:1) Is skin grafting permissible in Islam?
A: Yes, it is permissible subject to the fulfilment of certain conditions.
Q: 2) What are the conditions which make the skin grafting permissible in Islam?
A: Following conditions are necessary for the permissibility of skin grafting –
i. The skin transplantation is the only effective method of treatment.
ii. The harm, if any, caused to the donor, in case of donation, by the process of removal is within the standard acceptable limits.
iii. The operation is promising i.e. the likelihood of success is far more than that of failure.
iv. The skin is not acquired by sale, intimidation or deception. However, if no volunteer is available then there is no objection to obtaining necessary skin in exchange of price.
Q: 3) Are the patches of skin obtained from the person undergoing trans- plantation or another human, live or dead, juridically clean?
A: Yes, these patches are juridically clean according to Shariah.
Q: 4) Is skin graft from an animal lawful?
A: Yes, skin grafts from an animal which is lawful to eat and is slaugh- tered according to Islamic specifications are lawful in Shariah. However, skin grafts taken from a nonslaughtered animal carcass or from a living animal are unclean according to Shariah; so, their use is impermissible except in the case of necessity.
Q: 5) Is skin graft from pig permissible in Islam?
A: No, grafts from pig skin are not permissible except for dire necessity and where no lawful alternative is available.
Q: 6) Is setting up of ‘Human Skin Bank’ permissible in Islam?
A: Yes, it is permissible subject to the following conditions –
i. The bank is controlled by the state or by a reliable and trustworthy agency supervised by the State,
ii. The stock is proportionate to the real or expected needs,
iii. Surplus human skin remaining after operations is buried as a mark of respect to human remains and are not thrown up with wastes.
Source: islamset
Courtesy: www.everymuslim.co.za ?
