Using foetuses as a source of organs for transplant

Question

Praise be to Allah.

Nowadays there is something known as the trade in foetuses, in which
some doctors deliberately abort foetuses so that they can profit from selling the foetal
organs or cells, from which some kinds of injections may be prepared for the benefit of
elderly rich people and others. This is a major crime, because it entails the deliberate
murder of innocent souls for financial gain. This is a serious form of wrongdoing and the
rulings concerning it are well known and obvious. The question of whether the aborted
foetus may be used as a source of transplant organs has been researched by the Islamic
Fiqh Council, which issued the following fatwaa:

It is not permitted to exploit foetuses as a source of organs needed for
transplant into another person except in certain limited circumstances under stringent
conditions.

It is not permitted to exploit foetuses as a source of organs needed for
transplant into another person except in certain limited circumstances under stringent
conditions.

It is not permitted to deliberately induce abortion for the purpose of
exploiting the foetus for organ transplants to another person. Only foetuses expelled
through natural or spontaneous abortion (miscarriage) or aborted for a legitimate reason
may be used in this way. Surgery should not be performed to remove the foetus except in
cases where the mother’s life is at risk.

It is not permitted to deliberately induce abortion for the purpose of
exploiting the foetus for organ transplants to another person. Only foetuses expelled
through natural or spontaneous abortion (miscarriage) or aborted for a legitimate reason
may be used in this way. Surgery should not be performed to remove the foetus except in
cases where the mother’s life is at risk.

If the aborted foetus is viable and capable of living, then medical
attention should be aimed at preserving its life, not at exploiting it for organ
transplant. If it is not viable and will not live, its organs cannot be used until after
it has died naturally, according to the conditions of sharee’ah.

If the aborted foetus is viable and capable of living, then medical
attention should be aimed at preserving its life, not at exploiting it for organ
transplant. If it is not viable and will not live, its organs cannot be used until after
it has died naturally, according to the conditions of sharee’ah.

It is not permissible to exploit any part of the procedures required to
obtain and transplant organs for commercial gain.

It is not permissible to exploit any part of the procedures required to
obtain and transplant organs for commercial gain.

The procedures surrounding organ transplants must be supervised and
regulated by a specialized and trustworthy organization.

The procedures surrounding organ transplants must be supervised and
regulated by a specialized and trustworthy organization.

And Allaah knows best.