Use of Adipose Derived Stem Cells for Promoting Hair Growth

18-11-2021 | IslamWeb

Question:

Assalam Alaikum. Currently I have a hormonal imbalance that is causing my hair to fall out extensively. My question is regarding the use of adult adipose derived stem cells for promoting hair growth (which will be injected to my scalp). Is this procedure permissible from an islamic perspective? I would like to add that the stem cells are not taken from my body. Jazakallah Khair

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

Dear sister, you did not clarify to us the source of those adipose derived stem cells. In any case, what we can say is that the ruling on the use of those stem cells differ according to their source.

The decision of the Islamic Fiqh Council of the Muslim World League in Makkah No 99 (3/17) on the ruling of using stem cells in treatment reads:

Firstly: It is permissible to obtain stem cells, grow them, and use them for the purpose of treatment or to conduct permissible scientific research if their source is permissible, including – for example – the following sources:

1- Adults if they give their permission and provided there is no harm to them.

2- Children if their parents/guardians give permission for a legitimate benefit, and without harm to them.

3- The placenta or the umbilical cord, with the permission of the parents.

4- The miscarried fetus or the fetus that was aborted due to a therapeutic reason permitted by the Sharee’ah, with the permission of the parents. With a reminder of what was stated in the seventh resolution of the twelfth session of the Council regarding the cases in which it is permissible to abort a pregnancy.

5- Surplus inoculations from IVF projects, if they are found and donated by the parents, with an emphasis that it is not permissible to use them in an unlawful pregnancy.

Secondly: It is not permissible to obtain and use stem cells if their source is forbidden, for example:

1- Deliberate abortion of the fetus without a medical reason permitted by the Sharee’ah.

2- Intentional insemination between an egg of a female donor and a sperm from a male donor.

3- Therapeutic cloning.” [End of quote]

Based on this, you should look at the source of those adipose derived stem cells. If they are from permissible sources, then there is nothing wrong with you being treated with them, but if they are from forbidden sources, it is not permissible for you to be treated with them, and look for a permissible type of them.

The Prophet said: “Allah did not make your cure in what He has prohibited you from.” [Al-Bayhaqi, and Ibn Hibban graded it authentic]

Another Hadeeth reads: “Verily, Allah has sent down both the disease and the cure, so seek treatment but do not treat yourselves with what is forbidden.” [Abu Dawood and at-Tabarani]

The scholars made an exception from the prohibition of medical treatment with impurities in the event of necessity if there is no permissible medicine.

Al-‘Izz ibn Abdus-Salaam said in Qawa-id al-Ahkam:

“It is permissible to treat with impurities if one does not find a pure substance as an alternative, because the interest of health and safety is more complete than the interest of avoiding impurity.” [End of quote]

For more benefit on hair transplantation to cover baldness, please refer to Fatwa 90127.

Allah Knows best.