Save a Life Today

Issue 70 July 2010

In Islam, life trumps all, yet Muslims are ignoring a simple and effective life-saving initiative.

“If anyone saves a life, it shall be as though they have saved the lives of all humanity.” (Qur’an 5:32)

This verse of the Qur’an seems so heroic that it almost feels impossible, and outside the reach of us mere mortals. And yet, there is a very simple way to save someone’s life. It is so simple, that it takes no more than an hour of your time, but could potentially save the life of a mother giving birth, a cancer patient , or a crash victim. The simple act of giving blood, which your body will then replenish, could save the life of a whole host of people; and if done with the intention of pleasing God could gain you the reward of saving the whole of humanity.
Given such potential reward, it’s amazing to think how simple it actually is to give blood. After filling in a short health form, a small blood sample is taken to make sure you are not anaemic. You will then sit back and chat to a donor carer, whilst you donate around 470ml of blood. After a few minutes rest, with tea and biscuits to accompany, you’ll be good to go back to work or home.
Despite the prospect of spiritual reward and the ease of achieving it, there is still a shortage of Muslims signing up to give blood in the UK. This is particularly worrying as they potentially have rare blood groups. Given the ethnic demographic of most Muslims in the UK (70% of Muslims in the UK come from a South Asian demographic/15%+ from Arab descent) their blood type is essential. 25% of South Asians and Arabs are blood group B, compared to only 9% of Caucasians. Indeed at the moment, there is a desperate need for people with blood group B- to come forward. Despite the need for these rare blood groups only 200 people from such ethnic backgrounds give blood. Indeed just 1% of UK blood donations come from people of south Asian origin. With certain conditions which require regular transfusions such as Thalassaemia Major significantly affectingly more people from the South Asian community, this can be a real problem when cross-matching for transfusion.
Islamic scholars have agreed that blood donation is not only allowed on the basis of its life saving potential, some say it is fard kifaya - a duty imposed on the whole community of believers. With fard kifaya, although not every individual is required to perform the duty as long as a sufficient number of community members fulfil it, at the moment sufficient numbers are not coming forward to meet demand and thus giving blood becomes a duty on us all. 
With a long hot summer and the World Cup almost upon us, blood donation from all sectors traditionally drops, add to this the very small numbers of Muslim signed up to donate in the first place, it’s time for Muslims to step forward and save a life, and God-willing, save the whole of humanity.

Abdul Azim Ahmed

I’ve been donating blood for around three years now. Initially, I was just trying it out because I wanted to go along with friends. But then I started to realise the significance of what I was doing and began to fully understand the value blood donation holds. My Grandmother fell very sick once and had to receive a blood transfusion. That entire process instantly struck a chord within me. I was seeing someone on the receiving end, someone who needed blood to stay alive. That experience definitely put blood donation in perspective for me.
As a Muslim, I find there is an even greater need to give blood. Islamically, the idea of supporting someone in need and giving charity is a fundamental principle.  So, I am saddened when I hear some Muslims denounce blood donation and use the justification that your blood may end up in a non-Muslim as an excuse. There is no distinction when it comes to someone in need. Similarly, I have never personally heard any Muslim scholar object to blood donation. Where I live, some imams have even said that instead of hijamah- cupping, one should give blood.
I usually give blood at my University, when the blood drive vans arrive on campus which is usually every three months. The entire process takes about an hour. However, if it’s your first time giving blood, it may be a little longer as the donor carer may insist you rest more before leaving.
I recommend that you read up on the tangible benefits of blood donation before going in, so you can fully appreciate and acknowledge what you’re contributing to someone in need.
If you’re not a big fan of needles, as many people aren’t, I suppose it can be a little uncomfortable, but the whole process is a lot less painful than people might imagine. Blood donor centres have specially trained carers who are there to put you at ease and answer any questions you may have.
Near me,  a family has been organising a blood donation session in the mosque in an effort to find rare blood types who can donate and potentially help save someone’s life.
We often don’t realise but blood donation from ethnic minorities is of great need, and thus I would recommend that you sign up to save someone’s life today.

To find your nearest session and to book an appointment to donate in England and North Wales, call 0300 123 23 23 or visit www.blood.co.uk/VIP