Yes, an organ donor card (Organspendeausweis) can affect Islamic burial arrangements in Germany, especially with regard to the speed of burial and respect for the body. It is a sensitive issue that should be understood carefully from Islamic, legal and practical perspectives.
Does an organ donor card affect Islamic burial?
Yes, in several ways:
Delay of the burial
If a person carries a card stating their consent to organ donation, doctors will perform organ removal (e.g. liver, kidneys, heart …) before the body is released to the family or the funeral company.
This requires:
additional medical tests
complex medical preparation
coordination with a transplant centre
In practice, this often delays the burial by at least 24–48 hours.
This can conflict with the Islamic preference to bury the deceased as quickly as possible – ideally on the same day or at the latest the following day.
Surgical intervention on the body
Organ donation generally involves:
opening the chest or abdominal cavity
removing internal organs
suturing the body afterwards
Even if this is done with medical respect, the body is no longer in its original state. Some Islamic scholars consider this a violation of the sanctity and inviolability of the deceased, and in some Islamic cemeteries there may be reservations if it is not clear to what extent the body has been altered.
Difficulties with international repatriation
If organ donation has already taken place:
issuing a Leichenpass (corpse passport / mortuary passport) for international transport may be delayed
some countries may refuse to accept bodies from which organs have been removed
embassies may require additional declarations or special medical reports
Does this make Islamic burial impossible?
No, but it can make the procedure more complicated:
The body is still washed and buried according to Islamic rites after surgery.
Islamic law in general does not prohibit the burial of an organ donor in an Islamic cemetery.
However, some Islamic associations or cemetery administrations may object to burying an organ donor if it is not clearly documented that this was done voluntarily and in line with Islamic principles.
What is recommended for Muslims living in Germany?
| Recommendation | Reason |
|---|---|
| Carry a card explicitly refusing organ donation | To protect bodily integrity and speed up burial procedures |
| Record the refusal in a medical advance directive | So doctors or relatives do not decide otherwise without knowing your religious wishes |
| Clearly inform your family | So they are not confronted with the hospital’s question about organ donation without prior knowledge |
| Work with an Islamic funeral home from the outset | They know how to act quickly and how to minimise surgical interventions where possible |
Example wording for a written refusal:
In German:
“Aus religiösen Gründen lehne ich jede Organspende ab.”
(“For religious reasons, I refuse any organ donation.”)
In Arabic:
“أرفض التبرع بأي عضو من جسدي بعد الوفاة، التزامًا بأحكام الشريعة الإسلامية”.
Summary
Carrying an organ donor card does not make an Islamic burial impossible, but it can:
delay the burial,
change the physical condition of the body,
complicate international repatriation or burial in certain Islamic cemeteries.
Therefore, every Muslim in Germany is advised to clearly state their position in writing and verbally, and to coordinate with their family and an Islamic funeral company in order to safeguard their dignity after death in accordance with their faith.
* The writing and editorial team of the website strives, through intensive research and consultation of multiple sources, to provide accurate and reliable information. However, errors may occur or some details may be uncertain or incomplete. The information in these articles should therefore be regarded as an initial point of reference, and you should always consult the competent authorities and experts for binding and up-to-date guidance.
