In the Name of Allāh,
the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful
Praise is due to Allāh, Lord of the worlds, may the blessings and peace be upon our master Muḥammad, the last of prophets, on his family, and all his companions.
Resolution No. 54 (5/6) Transplantation of Brain and Nervous System Cells
The Council of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, holding its 6th session in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on 17–23 Shaʿbān 1410h (14–20 March 1990),
Having examined the research papers and recommendations concerning the Transplantation of Brain and Nervous System Cells, one of the topics of the Sixth Medical Fiqh Symposium held in the State of Kuwait on 23–26 Rabīʿ al-Aw- wal 1410h (23–26 October 1990) held jointly by the Academy and the Islamic Organization for Medical Sciences of Kuwait,
In light of the conclusions of the aforesaid symposium which concluded that transplantation here is not intended to transfer a human brain from one person to another, but to treat the failure of certain brain tissues by properly discharging chemical and hormonal substances and to replace these tissues with similar tissues obtained from another source, or to treat a gap of nervous system which has resulted from an injury,
Resolves
First: If the source of the tissues is the suprarenal gland of the same patient and are accepted by the patient’s body immunity as they are from the same body, the transplantation is not objectionable in Shariah.
Second: If the source of the tissues to be transplanted is an animal fetus, there is no objection to this method if its success is possible, and there is no contra- vention of any rule laid down by Shariah. Physicians have mentioned that this method has been successful in different species of animals, and it is hoped that it will prove successful if adopted with necessary medical precautions to avoid the body’s rejection of the transplanted organ.
Third: If the source of the tissues to be transplanted is live tissues from brain of a premature human fetus (in the tenth or eleventh week of pregnancy), the Shariah ruling may differ according to the following methods:
A: First Method
The removal of brain tissue directly from the human fetus in the mother’s uterus, by surgically opening the uterus, will result in the death of the fetus. This prac- tice is therefore prohibited by Shariah, unless it follows a miscarriage or a legal abortion to save the life of the mother, and the death of the fetus becomes obvi- ous. In this case, the conditions for the use of the fetus prescribed in resolution no. 59 (8/6) of this session must be observed.
B: Second Method
This method may be developed in the near future and consists of cultivating brain tissues in special laboratories in order to make use of it. There is no Shariah objection to this method if the source of the cultured tissues is lawful and if it was obtained by lawful means.
Fourth: Anencephaly (Child born without a Brain). As long as the child is born alive, it is not permissible to remove any part of his body, unless it is proven that he is dead by the death of his brain stem. He is no different from other infants in this respect. If he dies, removing parts of his body must be done in accordance with the terms and conditions applicable to the transplantation of the dead’s organs, such as obtaining the required permission, unavailability of a substitute, evident need and such other conditions stipulated in resolution no. 26 (1/4) of the fourth session of this Academy. There is no Shariah objec- tion to keep this brainless child on life support equipment until the death of his brain stem in order to preserve the life of transferable organs and to facilitate their transplantation according to the above-mentioned conditions.
Indeed, Allāh is All-Knowing.
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Secretary‑General of the Academy Visits the Consulate General of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan His Excellency Professor Dr. Qutb Mustafa Sano, Secretary‑General of the Academy, paid an official visit on 29 Sha‘ban 1447 AH, corresponding to 17 February 2026, to the Consulate General of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in Jeddah. His Excellency and his accompanying delegation were received by His Excellency Ambassador Mohammed Salah Sobhi Hameed, Consul General and Permanent Representative of Jordan to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, who welcomed him warmly and expressed his pleasure at the visit. He praised the distinguished intellectual efforts undertaken by the Academy under His Excellency’s leadership in addressing numerous religious and intellectual issues of concern to the Islamic world, affirming his personal honor in meeting His Excellency again and Jordan’s keenness to strengthen channels of communication and cooperation with the Academy, especially in areas of mutual interest. For his part, His Excellency expressed his deep gratitude and great appreciation to the Ambassador for the warm reception and generous hospitality. He commended the tremendous support, gracious care, and continuous attention the Academy has received from the leadership and people of Jordan since its establishment. He also conveyed his sincere appreciation for the Ambassador’s recent visit to the Academy, affirming the Academy’s full readiness to do everything that would enhance partnership, cooperation, coordination, and communication between the Academy and Jordanian religious and academic institutions. His Excellency was accompanied by Mr. Mohammed Al‑Mundhir Rida Al‑Shawk, Director of the Office and Protocol; Mr. Mohammed Waleed Al‑Idrisi, Director of Media and Public Relations; Ms. Sarah Amjad Badawi, Director of the Department of Family, Women, Children, and the Elderly; and Mr. Amjad Ibrahim Al‑Mansi, Head of the Protocol Section.
