Journal of Health and Nutrition Research Vol.
No.
2, 2025, pg.
738-746, https://doi.
org/10.
56303/jhnresearch.
Journal homepage: https://journalmpci.
com/index.
php/jhnr/index e-ISSN: 2829-9760 Blood Transfusion in Islam: An Integrative Analysis of Quranic Interpretation.
Medical Ethics, and Social Perspectives Tamrin Talebe1*.
Haerani Harun2.
Sitti Musyahidah3.
Suraya Attamimi1 1 Faculty of Ushuluddin and Adab.
Universitas Islam Negeri Datokarama Palu.
Indonesia 2 Faculty of Medicine.
Tadulako University.
Palu.
Indonesia 3 Faculty of Shariah.
Universitas Islam Negeri Datokarama Palu.
Indonesia Corresponding Author Email: tamrintalebe@gmail.
Copyright: A2025 The author.
This article is published by Media Publikasi Cendekia Indonesia.
PERSPECTIVE STUDIES
ABSTRACT
Submitted: 28 May 2025 This study examines the Islamic bioethical perspective on blood transfusion, a common medical procedure that raises ethical and religious The research analyzes Quranic verses, hadiths.
Islamic jurisprudence, and scholarly interpretations to understand the Islamic stance on blood, its use in medical treatments, and the permissibility of blood transfusion.
While blood is generally considered impure in Islam and its consumption is prohibited, exceptions are made for life-saving medical The study explores the Quranic and hadith-based concepts of blood, its various mentions and contexts in Islamic texts, and how these relate to modern medical practices.
It also discusses the medical benefits and risks of blood transfusion, including its life-saving potential and possible complications, within the framework of medical ethics.
The research highlights the Islamic principle of preserving life .
ifdzu al naf.
and how it applies to blood transfusion.
Social aspects, including blood donation as an act of solidarity and charity, are examined through an Islamic lens.
The study concludes that blood transfusion is permissible in Islam when medically necessary, aligning with the religion's emphasis on preserving life and helping others.
This research contributes to the growing field of Islamic bioethics in contemporary medical practices.
Accepted: 16 June 2025 Keywords:
Blood Transfusion.
Islamic Bioethics.
Blood donation.
Quranic Interpretation.
Medical Ethics in Islam.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercialShareAlike 4.
0 International License Access this article online Key Messages:
Quick Response Code Islamic jurisprudence permits blood transfusion for life-saving medical interventions, despite the general prohibition on blood consumption, based on the principle of preserving life .
ifdzu al naf.
Blood donation and transfusion are viewed as acts of solidarity and charity within the Islamic framework, aligning with the religion's emphasis on helping others and contributing to the understanding of Islamic bioethics in contemporary medicine.
Tamrin Talebe.
Haerani Harun.
Sitti Musyahidah.
Suraya Attamimi, .
GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
Developments of medicine open up a wide space for discussion about religious views on medical procedure that are sometimes considered taboo or not in accordance with religious norms.
The Quran as a guide for Muslims is the main basis for assessing whether the medical procedure is acceptable or prohibited according to medical indications .
Based on religious views, it can be assessed whether the medical procedure can be accepted by the community, especially by Muslims.
Blood transfusion is one of the medical procedures highlighted by religious communities.
person's religious views can influence their consideration towards blood transfusion.
An example of a belief that rejects blood transfusions is Jehovah's witnesses, giving a dilemma for healthcare professionals to perform health services, especially those related to blood transfusions.
Healthcare professionals must respect the patient's choice while maintaining the patient's safety from severe anemia.
In Islam, blood is considered unclean, so it needs to be studied in terms of its halal status and medical necessity .
Ae.
Blood transfusion is a common medical procedure to save lives by transferring a certain amount of blood from a donor into the body of the blood recipient who has the same blood type.
Approximately 5 million units of donor blood are donated each year in the world and about 3 - 5% of the population of a country is required to donate blood to fulfill the need for blood transfusion.
This high demand underscores the widespread use of blood transfusion in life-saving treatment .
,7Ae.
This global need for blood transfusion highlights the urgency of providing clear Islamic guidance on its permissibility, especially considering the potential concerns regarding blood impurity, donor recipient relations, and interfaith donations.
Bridging religious norms with medical practice is essential for ensuring that Muslim communities feel confident and supported in accessing necessary treatments.
In some cases, human blood is considered najis .
nything ritually impure or unclean in Islam that must be purified before performing acts of worship like praye.
, which influences how Muslims approach its handling.
In the Quran Surah Al-Baqarah verse 173: AuHe has made unlawful to you only that which dies of itself, and blood and the flesh of swine, and that on which the name of any other than Allah has been invoked.
But he who is driven by necessity, being neither disobedient nor exceeding the limit, it shall be no sin for him.
Surely.
Allah is Most Forgiving.
Merciful.
Ay This verse confirms that blood is one of the prohibited substances, whether it comes into contact with the skin or clothing or is consumed.
However, exceptions are made under conditions of necessity, such as medical emergencies.
Blood is forbidden to be consumed, whether in whole form or as plasma.
Menstrual blood is also considered najis and must be purified before worship .
Ae.
Some of the issues worried by Muslims on blood transfusion besides blood impurity also blood transfusion from married couples, blood from nonMuslims and the permissibility of intentionally removing blood from the body during blood donation .
Islamic scholars have provided various interpretations of these concerns.
Ibn Jarir Attabari commenting on Quran surah al-An'am verse 145: "Say, 'I do not find within that which was revealed to me https://doi.
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forbidden to one who would eat it unless it be a dead animal, or blood spilled out, or the flesh of swine Ae for indeed, it is impure Ae or it be .
hat slaughtered i.
disobedience, dedicated to other than Allah.
But whoever is forced .
y necessit.
, neither desiring .
nor transgressing .
ts limi.
, then indeed, your Lord is Forgiving and Merciful.
'" The reason it is forbidden to consume carrion, blood or pork is because the Quran considers them as rijsun.
Rijsun means impure and contains something dirty that must be purified .
In the Hadith.
Imam Bukhari and Muslim recorded the words of Asma: A woman came to the Prophet and asked him.
Auone of us has menstrual blood on her clothes, what should she do?Ay The Prophet replied: "She should scrape it, then rub it with water, then water it.
(After tha.
, he may use it for prayer.
" This hadith underscores the general principle that blood is impure and must be completely cleansed .
AL-QURANIC CONCEPT OF BLOOD
In the Quran, the concept of blood is expressed through several key terms, each carrying significant The word al-dam and its derivations appear ten times in the Quran, highlighting various themes.
For example, in Surah Al-Baqarah verse 30, blood is used symbolically to depict the violent tendencies of humans who shed blood and disregard the sanctity of life .
In dietary contexts, blood is explicitly prohibited for consumption, as outlined in Surah Al-Baqarah verse 173 and Surah Al-MaAoidah verse 3.
These verses emphasize the impurity of blood, along with carrion and pork, and declare them forbidden.
However, in urgent circumstances, these prohibitions can be lifted without incurring sin, aligning with the Islamic legal principle of necessity .
, which permits the normally prohibited when life preservation is at stake.
Additionally, the Quran uses the term al-dam al-masfu, referring to flowing blood from slaughtered animals, to reinforce that spilled blood is impure and unfit for consumption, although blood remaining within the body is not treated the same way .
Beyond dietary law, blood also holds symbolic meaning in the Quran.
In Surah Al-Hajj verse 37, the ritual act of animal sacrifice is mentioned, where the blood and meat do not reach Allah, but rather the devotion and piety of the individual do, signifying that the spiritual intention of the act holds more value than its physical elements .
In other verses, blood is associated with disaster and impurity, likened to natural calamities such as floods or the death of livestock, further reinforcing its negative connotations.
Yet, the Quran also acknowledges bloodAos critical biological role.
The word Aoalaqah, which appears in Surah Al-MuAominun verse 14, is used to describe a stage in fetal development where the embryo resembles a clinging blood clot.
This stage corresponds to the formation of the mesoderm, a central tissue layer in the human embryo that gives rise to important bodily systems including the circulatory, musculoskeletal, and reproductive systems, as well as blood vessels and connective tissues .
Another Quranic term associated with blood is ghislin, referring to the punishment of the inhabitants of Hell who are fed filth in the form of blood and pus.
This illustrates the concept of blood as something repugnant and unsuitable for human consumption, reinforcing its impure status .
These various references demonstrate the QuranAos complex portrayal of blood, as something forbidden and symbolically negative in dietary and ritual contexts, yet indispensable in the biological process of human This duality informs ongoing Islamic ethical discourse regarding the use of blood in modern medical treatments, such as blood transfusions.
BLOOD TRANSFUSION IN MEDICAL PERSPECTIVE
Benefits of Blood Transfusion Blood transfusion is a critical medical procedure used to restore and maintain adequate blood volume and oxygen-carrying capacity in patients facing life-threatening conditions.
One of its most vital applications is in blood resuscitation during emergencies such as trauma, childbirth, or major surgical These situations carry a high risk of acute blood loss, which can quickly lead to hypovolemic shock and death if not promptly treated.
Administering a blood transfusion in such cases helps restore the lost blood volume, significantly lowering the risk of fatal outcomes .
Additionally, untreated chronic anemia can impair cardiac and respiratory function and, in severe cases, lead to multi-organ failure.
pregnancy, chronic anemia is associated with poor outcomes such as premature birth and low birth weight https://doi.
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Blood transfusion remains a vital intervention in managing severe anemia, particularly when rapid correction is needed .
Beyond acute care, blood transfusions are essential in the treatment of chronic blood disorders such as thalassemia and cancer.
Thalassemia, a genetic disorder characterized by defective hemoglobin synthesis, often results in life-threatening anemia.
For patients with thalassemia, transfusion therapy is the cornerstone of treatment to reduce the risk of complications from severe anemia and improve quality of life .
Similarly, anemia is commonly observed in cancer patients due to a combination of chronic disease, nutritional deficiencies, chemotherapy, radiation, and surgical blood loss.
These factors create a substantial need for transfusions throughout the cancer treatment process .
Patients with blood cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma often have compromised bone marrow, impairing their ability to produce adequate red blood cells and platelets.
Blood transfusions are essential for sustaining organ function, preventing bleeding, and alleviating the effects of chemotherapy and radiation, which further suppress bone marrow activity .
Platelets are especially important in preventing hemorrhagic complications in these vulnerable patients.
While transfusion is a critical therapeutic measure, emerging research suggests that routine or excessive use may impair immune function or influence cancer progression, necessitating personalized transfusion strategies based on patient condition and cancer type .
Despite the need, donated blood products remain scarce and irreplaceable, as they cannot be synthetically manufactured.
Less than 3% of eligible adults donate blood, though someone requires blood every two seconds .
Global disparities also persist: 80% of the worldAos population has access to only 20% of the safe blood supply, contributing to millions of infections from unsafe transfusions, including hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV .
Appropriately administered red blood cell (RBC) transfusions have been shown to reduce in-hospital mortality, cardiac events, and infections, especially under restrictive protocols supported by clinical decision tools .
Thus, blood transfusion remains a life-saving practice requiring ethical discernment, robust donation systems, and evidence-based clinical application, especially in oncology and hematologic care.
In light of these challenges and limitations, emerging medical technologies such as autotransfusion and artificial blood substitutes are gaining attention.
Autotransfusion, the process of collecting and reinfusing a patientAos own blood, minimizes the risk of transfusion-transmitted infections and eliminates compatibility issues.
Additionally, ongoing research into hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers (HBOC.
and perfluorocarbon emulsions as synthetic blood alternatives offers promising potential to alleviate blood From an Islamic bioethical perspective, these innovations could be seen as aligned with the principles of preserving life .
ife al-naf.
, minimizing harm .
arAo al-mafAsi.
, and necessity .
proven safe and effective, they may be considered permissible, especially when conventional donor blood is unavailable or poses a greater risk.
These forward-looking solutions reflect IslamAos adaptive legal methodology in addressing evolving medical needs while upholding ethical boundaries.
Risk of Blood Transfusion Transfusion-Transmitted Infection Infectious agents such as viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites can enter a person's body through blood transfusion.
Infection transmitted in medical procedures has been a concern since 1980 with the discovery of the transmission of human immunodifiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) by Various screening methods to detect infectious agents in transfused blood were performed to minimize the risk of infection through blood transfusion even down to the nucleic acid amplification test (NAT) method that detects up to the molecular level of viruses and bacteria.
There is still risk of infection due to the limitations of screening tests that cannot examine all types of infectious agents .
The Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies (The AABB) Transfusion Transmitted Disease Committee in 2009 identified 68 infectious agents that can be transmitted in transfused blood .
Epidemiological data can be used as a guide to determine preventive measures for the transmission of these infections through blood transfusion.
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transfusions are HIV, hepatitis B virus (HBV).
HCV and Treponema pallidum .
Ae.
Blood donors are the key to providing transfused blood.
Various programs need to be implemented to prevent transfusiontransmission infection including HIV prevention efforts in blood donors .
Diseases or infectious agents recently been known to be transmitted by transfusion include severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), malaria, chagas disease, leismeniasis.
Babesia.
Hepatitis virus A, hepatitis virus E, dengue virus (DENV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), west nile virus (WNV), parvovirus and others .
Blood Transfusion Reaction A transfusion reaction is defined as an adverse effect after a blood transfusion.
Transfusion reactions have varied clinical symptoms from mild to life-threatening effects.
The diagnosis of a transfusion reaction is difficult to identify due to the many symptoms after a transfusion.
Each side effect found should be monitored until the patient receives adequate therapy .
Transfusion reactions are divided into immune reactions and non-immune reactions.
Immune reactions are caused by incompatibility between antigens and antibodies.
Non-immune reactions is caused by mechanisms other than immunologic mechanisms, the most common reaction is transfusion-associated circulatory overload (TACO) caused by large or rapid blood intake resulting in increased hydrostatic pressure and causing pulmonary udem .
RELIGIOUS ASPECTS OF BLOOD TRANSFUSION
One of the concerns of religious communities regarding blood transfusion is the prohibition to consume blood.
Most religions or beliefs in the world allow blood transfusions for saving live reason.
However, blood is also a symbol of power in various beliefs as a symbol of sacrifice, martyrdom, menstruation, virginity and so on.
Blood is a symbol of life considered essential to sustain life .
In some faiths the blood transfusion issue is not explained in detail in the scriptures and it is left to the adherents to make decisions regarding blood transfusion.
There are many faiths such as Buddhist.
Episcopal and Catholic that consider tissue and organ donation a noble act.
While some other beliefs such as Gypsy do not allow blood transfusions with the belief in life after death and the body must remain intact because the soul is not related to the physical form .
Jehovah's Witnesses hold religious view it is wrong and forbidden to put one's blood into another person's body.
This includes all blood components, including whole blood, plasma, packed red cells (PRC), white blood cells and platelets.
Jehovah's Witnesses may choose to receive blood products such as albumin, immunoglobulin and coagulation factors.
They generally receive medical therapies without involving blood or blood components .
In Islam, the law of a haram can change if there are life-threatening conditions.
Just like the law of haram food can become halal if it can save lives.
In other cases, vaccines are also found to be permissible due to urgency and no halal vaccines was found .
Islam generally permits blood transfusions, but it needs to be assessed whether blood transfusions are truly necessary in a person's treatment without any worries that may interfere with faith.
The main challenge in the religious aspect of Islam towards blood transfusion is the unclear religious myths that are questioned and developed in the community.
These myths include blood donation can break the fast, blood donation will create a nasab/mahram relationship (Nasab: the blood lineage or kinship, establishing your family tree and dictating rights like inheritance.
Mahram: the individuals with whom marriage is permanently forbidden due to blood, fosterage, or marital ties, allowing for relaxed social interaction and often serving as travel escort.
, donation is considered dangerous because it goes against fate, non-Muslim donor blood is haram and donating blood can reduce lifespan, but these myth has no basic in Islam .
SOCIAL ASPECT OF BLOOD TRANSFUSION
Blood transfusion is not only a medical intervention but also a reflection of social solidarity in Generally, transfused blood is obtained from voluntary donors or substitute donors .
rom family or relative.
Blood products are obtained from healthy people to be donated to other people in need.
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Indonesia is around 5.
1 million blood bags per year.
This number is obtained from 2% of Indonesia's Currently, the production of blood and blood products is around 4.
1 million bags from 3.
About 90% of the blood products come from voluntary blood donors.
The people are expected to play a role by becoming blood donors to ensure the availability of transfused blood.
Adequate blood supply reduces the risk of anemia and its effects .
The basic principle of humanity in Islam is to preserve human life.
AuAnd whoever saves one Ae it is as if he had saved mankind entirelyAy (QS.
Al Maidah: .
In Islam.
Allah SWT bless every human being who protects the life and safety of his soul.
Human life is do valuable so that protecting it becomes one of the main goals of religion .
ifdzu al naf.
Every human being has relationships with other humans, both family and social relationships.
That is why protecting the life of one human being seems to be as valuable as protecting the lives of all human beings, because it is essentially the same as preserving the existence of human life .
Islam gives special attention to human beings to work together to fulfill human needs.
In Islam, people who are happy to help and ease the burden of suffering of others.
Allah SWT promises to repay his This is in accordance with the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad .
eace be upon hi.
narrated by Muslim: "Whoever relieves a believerAos distress of the distressful aspects of this world.
Allah will rescue him from a difficulty of the difficulties of the Hereafter.
Whoever alleviates .
he situation o.
one in dire straits who cannot repay his debt.
Allah will alleviate his lot in both this world and the Hereafter.
Whoever conceals .
he faults o.
a Muslim.
Allah will conceal .
is fault.
in this life and the Hereafter.
Allah helps the servant as long as he helps his brother.
" .
One of the essential principle of social life in Islam is nurturing good relationship with others .
In addition, in Islam are the peoples encouraged to help each other in goodness and faith, and avoid helping each other in sin and hostility (Surah Al-Maidah verse .
BLOOD DONATION AND BLOOD TRANSFUSION IN AL-QURAN PERSPECTIVE
The Islamic jurisprudential perspective on blood transfusion and donation is deeply rooted in the interpretive tradition of the Quran and the principles of fiqh .
he science of Islamic jurisprudenc.
Wahbah az-Zuhaili, in his Tafsir al-Munir, explains that the prohibition of consuming blood that flows out of the body is based on its harmful nature and the innate human aversion to it.
Therefore, blood is considered haram not only due to its impurity but also because of its potential to cause harm .
In Tafsir ashSha'rawi, blood is described as a substance that flows continuously through the veins, serving critical biological functions such as warming the body, delivering nutrients, and transporting waste to the kidneys and lungs.
This highlights the essential role of blood in sustaining life and the complexity of its consideration within Islamic legal discourse .
Contemporary tafsir works also engage with the application of Islamic legal principles to modern medical issues.
In Tafsir Maudhu'i, volume 7, page 312, it is stated that blood transfusion is addressed through fiqh-based reasoning, providing a theoretical foundation for interpreting verses related to its The tafsir explains that blood transfusion is permissible to save patients suffering from certain medical conditions, and blood donation, whether direct or facilitated by institutions like the Indonesian Red Cross, is also allowed within this framework .
These rulings are firmly grounded in the broader Islamic legal maxim that "necessity makes the forbidden permissible" .
l-sarrAt tubu almauerA.
, emphasizing the obligation of every believer to preserve life by seeking appropriate medical treatment, even if it involves elements that are normally prohibited.
This aligns with the Quranic objective of preserving life .
ife al-naf.
as one of the core purposes of maqAid al-sharAoah.
According to Imam Nawawi in his commentary on Sahih Muslim, the body of every human, including that of non-Muslims, is pure, indicating that Islamic law does not require the donor and recipient of blood to share the same religious beliefs or ethnicity.
This reinforces the view that blood donation, when done with sincere intent, is a highly valued humanitarian act and is strongly encouraged in Islam, particularly when it serves to save human lives .
Furthermore.
Tafsir Maudhu'i affirms that blood plays a crucial role in life preservation and that in certain medical circumstances, its use is not only acceptable but necessary.
Islamic scholars permit the https://doi.
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use of human blood in treatments when no viable alternative exists, provided that the process adheres to ethical boundaries and Islamic principles .
To address modern practices such as blood transfusion .
aqlud-da.
, fuqahAAo (Islamic legal scholar.
apply established fiqh maxims such as al-QawA'id alKhamsah, the five overarching legal principles, including the preservation of life and the prevention of Scientific evidence strongly supports blood transfusion as an effective and life-saving treatment.
Nevertheless, ethical boundaries remain important, particularly regarding the prohibition of commercializing blood.
In Islam, blood donation is considered part of taAoAwun .
utual assistanc.
and adaqah .
haritable givin.
, and the selling or monetization of blood is strictly forbidden .
CONCLUSION
According to Islamic jurisprudence, human blood is generally regarded as impure and prohibited for consumption or intentional contact.
However, exceptions are recognized in cases of urgent medical need, particularly to preserve human life .
ife al-naf.
, a fundamental objective of the higher goals of Islamic law .
aqAid al-sharAoa.
In such contexts, blood transfusion is considered permissible.
Moreover.
Islam encourages blood donation as a form of altruism and charitable giving .
, provided it is carried out with sincere intent and in accordance with established medical guidelines.
This study contributes to the broader field of Islamic bioethics by clarifying the permissibility and moral value of blood transfusion and donation within the Islamic legal framework.
Future research may explore how these ethical principles are applied in clinical settings in Muslim-majority countries or compare Islamic rulings on blood transfusion with those of other religious traditions.
FUNDING
This research received no external funding CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
The authors declare no conflict of interest
REFERENCES