What is the Shar'i (Islamic legal) opinion on cell implantation and cell banks where a person's cells are stored for future use?
Stem cells are cells often extracted from the umbilical cord after birth and are used in the treatment of blood and neurological diseases. The sources of these cells include human embryos, adults (bone marrow and blood), and the umbilical cord. These cells are preserved in special or public banks for future therapeutic use, and can be used for their owner or donated to others.
Several jurisprudential councils have issued resolutions regarding this matter:
1. It is prohibited to intentionally induce abortion for the purpose of utilizing the fetus or its organs. 2. It is permissible to benefit from stem cells from the umbilical cord, especially since it is discarded and not otherwise utilized. 3. It is permissible to transfer an organ from one part of the human body to another for repair or to create a missing organ. 4. It is permissible to obtain, cultivate, and use stem cells for treatment or scientific research if their source is permissible, such as adults, children (with the permission of their guardians), the placenta or umbilical cord (with the parents' permission), and a fetus spontaneously miscarried or miscarried due to a legitimate reason (with the parents' permission). 5. It is not permissible to obtain stem cells if their source is prohibited, such as a fetus intentionally aborted without a legitimate reason, or intentional fertilization between an egg and sperm from donors, or therapeutic cloning.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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