Selling or Donating Organs

Question

Is it permissible to sell or donate organs, before and after death? [AR_ID:733]

Answer 1

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.

Firstly - Donation or Sale While Alive:

Sayyid Sistani:

It is not permissible if the removal would cause you significant harm, such as losing an eye or a hand. However, it is permissible if it does not cause such harm, like removing a piece of skin, part of the marrow, or one kidney if the person has another healthy kidney. It is also permissible to receive money in exchange for the removed part.

Sayyid Khamenei:

There is no objection for a person to sell or donate their kidney or any organ from their body while alive for the benefit of patients, provided it does not cause significant harm to themselves. In fact, it may be obligatory if it is necessary to save a respected life, as long as it does not cause hardship or harm to the individual.

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Secondly - Donation or Sale After Death:

Sayyid Sistani:

If a Muslim's lungs and heart stop functioning permanently and irreversibly, it is permissible to remove an organ from their body if it is necessary to save another Muslim's life. It is not permissible in other cases, even if they bequeathed the removal for the benefit of the living, unless it is essential for life, which is more cautious to adhere to in this case.

However, in the case of permissibility, the one who removes the organ is liable for blood money (diya) and must manage the deceased's interests. If the person bequeathed this, there is no blood money for the removal.

Sayyid Khamenei:

A doctor is not allowed to remove an organ from a deceased Muslim to transplant it into a living person unless the life of the Muslim depends on it. If the life of the organ itself depends on it, it is generally not permissible. If they do so, they will be sinful and liable for blood money, but they can agree with the patient to bear the blood money on their behalf, provided the deceased did not permit the removal. If the deceased did permit it, there is a question about its permissibility, but after permission, there is no blood money liability even if we say it is forbidden. If the deceased did not permit it, can their heirs give permission? It seems they cannot; if they remove it with the heirs' permission, they have sinned and are liable for blood money.

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Sources:

Sayyid Sistani: Official site: 1, 2. 

Sayyid Khamenei: Medical rulings, Q37 + Special inquiry.