SA Imam Muhammed,

InshaAllah everything is going well with you. I have some questions from an inmate, here is the section from his mail:

‘My health is not the greatest and I have been asked by the Univ. of Utah that in case I happen to die on the operating table for any reason; would I want them to intervene and have them perform all the necessary procedures to bring me back to life, and once I am back would I want to be put on life support if things did not go as planned by their surgeons.

Question: A- What do I do? I have told them the last time that I was there to let me die and that I did not want them to intervene but I was not sure as what I was supposed to tell them according to Sharia

Answer: A– Islam has a preference of life over death. Intervention is allowed to the extent that is ‘normal.’ For example, all patients for a given procedure maybe placed on life support system till their body gets ‘re-booted.’ Once this state has been passed, the life support system must be withdrawn. Should the person thereafter pass-away, it would be viewed as from the side of Allah. To activate the life support system once it has been withdrawn beyond what has been established by the medical community as ‘normal’ would not be viewed as Islamically favorable. Life support system can only be used beyond the necessary point if pious Muslim doctors feel that the chances of survival are greater than that of death.

Question: B- What do I tell them to do with my body if I do die? Do I have them contact you or the Islamic volunteers?

Answer: B – Hospitals are aware, that all people do not condone donning body parts. Anything we chose to give must be given whilst we are alive. It is best we give whatever needs to be given to people that can pray for us, not function against the best interest of Muslims. Once we have departed from this world, all must be returned to Allah without intentional defacing of the body. Our bodies are an amanah (entrusting from Allah) and we are called to treat it as such.  Organ donning can only take place for a specific person whose life would be saved by it without any financial numeration.

Also keep a copy as well as hand the caretakers/guardians the details of your Islamic cemetery, so as to have a swift burial.  (May Allah extend your life, and keep us all thinking of death as He has done for you.)

Question: C- What other arrangements should I have done before things change for me?
i. Funeral costs
ii. I have no property other than what I have here, so what should I do with the items

Answer: C – Stipulate in your will, ‘I would like my wealth distributed according to Islamic principles.’ Get a good Islamic Will and also have this notarized, so to avoid ambiguity, complexity and confusion after your passing away.

Question: D -I would like to invite you to come and talk with us sometime. I know the rest of the brothers feel the same. We can use your guidance and it would mean so much to meet you. We all have questions and we understand that you have a tight schedule , so when you have sometime, please welcome our invitation. Thank you for your time and prompt reply.

Answer: D – You are always welcome to invite me. It would be an honor to be of service to you and other concerned persons.

Question: E- This is a brother that has multiple illnesses. InshaAllah if you can reply I will relay the message. This mail was received around December of 2008, so if you can send your response quick that would be great!

Answer: E – You received it in 2008. You only sent it to us about a week ago! We usually take longer on serious queries, so as to give the best answer possible.

Allah Certainly Knows Best.

p.s. Italics are for those that understand the basis for our answers. Before you contact us, see each part prior to lamenting to us.