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Imam Elturk Joins Roundtable Discussion on Saving Lives Through Organ Donation

  • IONA
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On October 28, 2021, hosted by Fox 2 News Reporter and Anchor, Josh Landon, Gift of Life Michigan broadcasted a virtual roundtable event titled “The Gift of Life – Michigan’s Faith Leaders Dialogue ”. This year marks 50 years that Gift of Life Michigan has been providing advocacy and education on organ and tissue donation. Gift of Life Michigan and local faith leaders are now teaming up to help spread the word within our community about this life saving gift.

Imam Steve Mustapha Elturk, Ameer and President of the Islamic Organization of North America, presented and discussed alongside other local faith community leaders the questions and concerns that often come up among members of the Muslim community in regards to being a Registered Organ Donor. Along with Imam Elturk, Artelia Grigg

(Christian Deacon and mother of an organ donor), Raman Singh (Sikh community member and Chair of The Interfaith Leadership Council), L.J. Brazier (Chaplain at The University of Michigan Hospital), Shama Mehta (Hindu Chaplain) and Rabbi Daniel Schwartz (Rabbi at The Temple Shir Shalom) all noted that members within each of their faith communities share common misunderstandings about being an organ donor and have questions about what is permissible in their particular faith.
Imam Elturk remarked that “The Muslim jurists have permitted the giving of organs as donations. Of course there are limitations, and it’s subject to some conditions, but nevertheless, it is welcomed and is something that God willing, we will take forward with our communities and make sure this is something our communities are aware of and is encouraged; highly encouraged”. Imam Elturk plans to take this topic of charity through being a registered organ donor to The Imams Council to discuss how to further encourage members of the Muslim community to be part of this life saving opportunity.
Imam Elturk noted, when sharing the Islamic view on being a registered organ and tissue donor, that “We have this principle in Islamic jurisprudence: Whoever saves a life, it is as if he saves the entire humankind.”
Pilgrims supplicate at Hajj in Mecca, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo courtesy Steve Mustafa Elturk
This event may be viewed in its entirety at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zc9yQQOvcJU.
To learn more about Gift of Life Michigan, organ and tissue donation, or to sign up to become a Registered Donor please visit https://giftoflifemichigan.org/. You may also register to become an organ and tissue donor at any Secretary of State office location by appointment or anytime online at https://www.michigan.gov/sos/.
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IONA, 28630 Ryan Rd., Warren, MI 48092 | Tel: 586-558-6900 | E-mail: center@iononline.org
IONA’s mission is to transform its members and help transform the surrounding communities to righteous, God-fearing people, who collectively strive for the highest moral standard and constantly seek forgiveness from our Creator to earn His pleasure. We seek His compassion and mercy in this life and in the hereafter. We rejuvenate our soul through internal struggle and spiritual exercise in worship of our creator God. The strength of our belief in God gives us the courage to establish good and forbid evil, thus promoting a system of justice for all mankind.

About IONA

IONA's objective is to help the Muslims of North America understand and fulfill their divinely ordained obligations, in order to please Allah (SWT) and thereby achieve success and salvation in the Hereafter.

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