Answer
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
In this fatwa:
1- A Muslim can donate his/her cord blood as the blood contain cells vital to replace the blood cells in a person who has leukemia, bone marrow failure or certain rare inherited diseases.
2- Muslims may donate cord blood to and receive from non-Muslims.
3- Those who wish to bury placenta, it should be done properly and safely. It is also permissible to leave it at the hospital.
4- It is acceptable to bury the placenta after the blood is drained from it.
5- Marrying one’s donor or donee or their family members is permissible and does not affect them in any way.
In responding to your question, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore, states:
Can a Muslim be a cord blood donor?
The Fatwa Committee of Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) has discussed and decided that blood transplant from one person to another is permissible with some conditions:
1- There is a need for the blood transplant.
2- It is assured by a qualified doctor that the blood transplant does not cause harm to the donor and in fact provides cure and eases the pain and suffering of the patient.
3- The transplant must not involve any form of trading or costs, because the blood of a person is sacred hence trading of any part of it is prohibited.
Cord blood donation therefore is permissible in Islam as it fulfills the conditions stated by the fatwa. A Muslim can donate his/her cord blood as the blood contain cells vital to replace the blood cells in a person who has leukemia, bone marrow failure or certain rare inherited diseases.
The collection process does not interfere in the birth process and therefore does not endanger both mother and child. Since the benefit of cord blood donation is prevalent while there is no harm involved, it is therefore allowed in Islam.
In fact, it is encouraged as it helps alleviate other people’s sufferings and save lives, in line with the Quranic injunction which means “… whomever saves one life, then it is as though he has saved the whole of humanity.” (Al-Maidah 5:32)
Transplanting cord blood to non-Muslims
Similar to the cases in kidney donation and transplantation, Muslims may donate cord blood to and receive from non-Muslims. This is because when it comes to saving lives, Islam does not differentiate between Muslims and non-Muslims as long as they are living in harmony with each other war.
Respect to human beings extends to Muslims and non-Muslims alike.
Burying placenta
While some scholars are of the opinion that it is encouraged to bury the placenta, it is not compulsory. For those who wish to bury it, it should be done properly and safely. It is also permissible to leave it at the hospital.
Burying placenta after draining out cord blood
As the blood is permissible to be donated, it is acceptable to bury the placenta after the blood is drained from it.
Marrying the cord blood recipient
Organ and blood transplantation, including cord blood donation, does not bring about kinship, or familial ties between donor and done. Therefore, marrying one’s donor or donee or their family members is permissible and does not affect them in any way.
Receiving payment for the cord blood
What is prohibited is the trading of the cord blood, where the recipient pays a specific monetary or other benefit to the person who provides the blood.
In the case of third party organizations, if the remuneration that they receive is for the services related to the collection, storage and delivery of the cord blood, then it does not fall under the definition of trading that is prohibited. It is important for donors to seek thorough explanation from the agencies or organizations through which they are donating their blood, to ensure that they make informed decisions.
Almighty Allah knows best.
Source: www.muis.gov.sg