Q: I am a medical student, and as with many of us, dissection is an area that seems to be unclear. You have clearly stated that dissection should be avoided. Other research on the Internet (which is not always a reliable source) has shown that many fataawa have been passed in favour of dissection, with no clear proofs presented. My heart does not feel peace in this. Please can I have some direction, with clear reference/proofs to/from Quran
and Sunnah, on how I should reconcile my position. I wish to be a doctor some day InshaAllah, but I do not wish to earn Allah’s displeasure.
A: All the organs of the human body have been given to us as a trust (amaanah) from Allah Ta`ala and must be shown their due respect. It will therefore only be permissible to use these organs for the purposes decreed by Allah Ta`ala. Dissecting and cutting human parts in this way is really showing disrespect. Hence, it will not be permissible. Apart from this, since there are other alternatives (i.e. dissecting the bodies of animals and using their body parts at the time of need), it will not be permissible to dissect human bodies and experiment on them.
For further details refer to http://muftionline.co.za/node/14871
And Allah Ta’ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
Answered by:
Mufti Zakaria Makada
Checked & Approved:
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)