World Organ Donation Day: Let's Pledge To Donate Our Organs

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 8 August 2022 While making my will a few years ago, I instructed my lawyer-friend, Mr Aslam Khan, to make it clear in no uncertain terms that since I've no religion and I don't believe in any god whatsoever, my entire body following my death will be given away to the nearest medical college for research purpose and all my body parts, if intact, will be donated to those in need of them. I remember, when my Arabic Professor and mentor, Dr Zaifa Ashraf was dying, she requested the doctors at Marsden Cancer Hospital, London, to donate her whole body and added that no obsequies would be performed as she too had turned her back on all man-made faiths and gods. Her beautiful limpid eyes were donated to a 16-yr-old girl from Bradford (UK) who was blind from birth. Her other body parts saved a couple of patients. This is humanity, the crux of all religions. Here, I'm not condescending and looking down upon those departed people whose bodies-with intact organs-couldn't be utilized due to religious reasons. My point is: What's wrong if your organs help someone when you're no more? Don't you live posthumously through someone and perpetuate your memory in a noble manner? How delirious that girl from Bradford must have been after seeing the world for the first time with my professor's eyes? The very feeling is so heart-warming. Though today, we all hesitate to give away the bodies of our near and dear ones for medical purposes, the concept of organ donation is not something new or out of the box. It's known as Dadhichi Aadarsh (Dadhichi Ideal) in Hinduism. Dadhichi, also known as Dadhyancha or Dadhyanga, is a central character in Hinduism. Dadhichi is a Rishi who played a role in the conflict between the Devas and Asuras. Dadhichi is renowned for sacrificing his life so that Indra could wield the weapon "Vajra" made from Dadhichi's bones. The Devas were initially driven out from Svarga, or heaven, by the powerful Asura Vritra. Vritra was granted a boon to be unharmed by any forged weapons, including divine weaponry. The Devas required a powerful weapon to aid their fight. By making use of the Vajra, made from the sage Dadhichi's bones, Indra the ruler of the Devas, then defeated the Asura and reclaimed heaven. This whole story may be apocryphal, but it has a deeper value and meaning as it's a metaphor for saving the lives of others by donating one's own body. ------------------------------------------------------------- Also Read: Organ Donation Is Supreme Sharing ------------------------------------------------------------ There cannot be anything more altruistic than this. Even Al-Furqan, which doesn't speak of organ donation, does say in the Chapter 5/Verse 32 that “Whosoever saves the life of one person, it'd be as if he saved the life of all mankind." Muhammad also says that, “Whoever helps another will be granted help from Allah.” Organ donation is the continuation of the universal spirit of philanthropy. Death may be the end of your physical body, but your organs that you donated, ensure that you live forever in the memory of those who got a new lease of life. Let's pledge every day, not just on August 13 (World Organ Donation Day) that our organs will be utilized even when we're not around. By the way, my friend and lawyer, Mr Khan, has also made his will, stating clearly to donate his body organs. Others must follow suit. --- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/world-organ-donate-/d/127666 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism