Is blood donation permissible in an emergency?

Answer

Even in an emergency situation blood donation is not permissible just as it is not permissible in such times to take by force anyone's blood. Whether the blood is taken by force or willingly, the ruling of prohibition is the same. If a person is on the verge of death due to starvation, then it is permissible for him to take by force sufficient food from another person to save his life. But he may not take by force sufficient blood from another person to save, for example, his dying son whom the doctors say needs blood. The same argument applies to obtaining blood willingly donated. But food even if not willingly given can be taken by force in dire circumstances.

We are not in agreement with the view that donating, buying and selling blood is permissible regardless of whose opinion it may be. It is a pure personal opinion unsubstantiated by facts/proofs of the Shariah. We are not obliged to follow the opinion of any Aalim regardless of his stature. Those who are in disagreement with our fatwa are at liberty to follow whomever they wish. We are not imposing our view on anyone. But, whoever disagrees with our view should refute it with the facts of the Shariah, not with the personal opinions of Ulama. There is no Shar'i obligation on us to agree with any majority view of even our seniors.

We are obliged to follow only the unanimous rulings of the Fuqaha of our Math-hab.