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- (17) Rules of Post-mortem
- (46) It is not permissible to dissect the dead body of a
Muslim, i.e. to carry out a post-mortem. If such an act is carried
out, it is obligatory on the person conducting the operation to pay
compensation according to the rules detailed in (the Book of
Compensations).
- (47) It is permissible to dissect the dead body of an
unbeliever, provided his blood was spared during his life-time.
Otherwise, as in the case of a covenanted ‘dhimmi’
person, avoiding carrying out post-mortem becomes a matter of ihtiyat
luzumi.
Of course, if post-mortem is permissible according to his faith, in
general, with his permission during his lifetime, or with the permission
of his next of kin after his death, its permissibility is not in doubt.
As for the one whose nature of blood is suspect, i.e. whether or not
his blood was spared during his lifetime, it is permissible to carry out
post-mortem on his body, if there be no proof to suggest otherwise.
- (48) The life of a Muslim may depend upon dissecting a dead
body. Since it is not viable to dissect the dead body of an
unbeliever, other than the dead body of the one whose blood was
spared or the one whose state of faith is unknown, it is permissible
to dissect some other body belonging to a non-Muslim. If it is not
available, it is permissible to resort to dissecting a body of a
Muslim. It is not permissible to dissect a dead body of a Muslim for
training purposes and the like, unless a life of another Muslim is
at stake.
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