19
Organ Transplant in Islam - Why Muslims should be Careful and
Vigilant after an Organ Transplant?
As we have noted, Schwartz and Russek (1999) in their work, The Living Energy
Universe, forward the plausibility of memory in every cell, and detail how a
transplant patient may encounter the feelings and experiences from the person
whom the organ originated. We know that brain cells learn from complex network of
feedback loops. It is therefore possible that the cells in other organs store memories
and that these experiences may be transferred when a transplant takes place.
The
story science has created for explaining how brains learn applies equally well
to how hearts, lungs, kidneys, or even bones can learn. The explanation is that
through a systemic memory process, as explained in the introductory section,
these organs create
integrative systemic memories from experiences, and as time
unfolds they create
universal living memories.
Muslims are not permitted to donate their organs after they die. However, Islamic
Fiqh allows an organ of another human being to be transplanted into ones body
to save his or her life. Even though organ transplants are permitted in Islam, and
that these organs become tahir (pure) as soon as they become part of the body,
Muslims need to be careful of the repercussions of these procedures. Schwartz and
Russek (1999) quote a few incidents in which behaviors, actions and preferences
were reported to change in the person as soon as the transplant was over. In one
case, a health-conscious, thin and fit lady ordered fried chicken nuggets as soon as
she was discharged. This lady who received the transplant never ate fried chicken
before and was surprised to learn that the 18-year-old person whose heart and
lungs now lived inside her had had a fondness for them.
According to Schwartz and Russek (1999),
These claims are often explained as
coincidences or misconceptions, side effects of the immune suppressant drugs, or
the expression of the pre-existing psychopathology interacting with the stress of
surgery. In reality, many incidents have been reported (Pearsall, 1998).
Further, the systemic memory process forwarded explains this concept, as they
view all material systems as dynamic, living, evolving informational energy
systems. It is therefore possible that the transplanted organ may stimulate new
behaviors and preferences in the patient who has had the surgery, and caution is
recommended. In summary, it is the conscious info-energy within the transplanted
organ that stimulates new actions and behaviors in the patient who has received
the transplant.