Najafi Q&A: Medical Rules

Gelatin extracts are used in many foods for flavoring, coloring, or treatment, as in pharmaceutical products. They are of two types: Animal gelatin, extracted from bones and Plant gelatin, extracted from certain plants. Sometimes the source is unknown; the label only states that the product contains “processed gelatin,” without clarifying whether it comes from an animal that is lawful to eat or unlawful, or whether the lawful animal was properly slaughtered according to Islamic law. It is also unclear whether “processed” means a chemical transformation, customary processing, or that it is purely plant-based. What is the ruling for a Muslim regarding such food products—especially when finding an alternative is difficult, such as in medical treatment due to cost or the required dosage, assuming a gelatin-free option is not available?

Is it permissible for students of medical colleges or forensic institutes—such as those who diagnose crimes—to practice training by dissecting the bodies brought to university teaching halls, in addition to looking at or touching them? It is worth noting that without such practice, students often cannot pass their academic stage, causing Muslims to lose their positions and presence in medical and similar fields.

Some medications used for nourishing cartilage and treating joint and bone inflammation and pain are manufactured using extracts from shark cartilage, combined with a group of acids, vitamins, and minerals beneficial for the elderly and athletes. What is the ruling on using and consuming these medications?

Is it permissible for a male who exhibits feminine physical traits, voice, and inclinations to change his male genital organ into a female one?

What is the ruling on certain medications that contain a very small amount of alcohol, specifically ethanol, which is used as a stabilizing agent?

Is it permissible to undergo a gender change operation from male to female in the following cases: 1.By choice? 2.Out of necessity, if the (male) has no inclination toward women at all and is inclined toward men?

Some physical therapy students learn massage therapy, which involves touching the body of a foreign woman. The university where he studies does not consider the religious aspect, so if he refuses, it may lead to his failure in the exam, causing harm to him. Is it permissible for him to do this work?

What is the ruling of looking at a woman's private parts during childbirth by a male or female doctor or medical team during training?

In medical colleges, it is necessary for the student to examine foreign women and men, and the examination may include the area of the private parts. This is unavoidable for medical students during their general studies. Is it permissible for them to practice this, and is the ruling applied to the doctor as it is to the medical student?

What is the ruling of a female student entering a medical college while preserving her hijab and wearing the niqab, knowing that there is mixing in practical application?

The study of a medical student depends on certain prerequisites, including attending with a proficient doctor during a surgical operation. The student learner may be forced to look at the woman and sometimes may have to touch the body or even the private parts. This is something that depends on the study of medicine in this era. Is it permissible to study medicine in this situation as a choice? Similarly, what is the ruling for a girl who wishes to study medicine under the circumstances mentioned in the previous question?

Some Muslim female students are taught by male professors in universities and elsewhere. The professor usually has to explain the curriculum while standing in front of the female students who are sitting in chairs and are looking at him as usual without intending pleasure. Is it permissible to continue looking in this case if it is for the purpose of paying attention and listening to the lecture?

I am a doctor seeking to enter the field of specialization in surgery. I have this inquiry regarding determining my future: a doctor who works as a plastic surgeon, meaning he/she works on beautifying areas of the human body according to the request of the patient, for example: if there is an excess of fat in the abdomen or thighs or breasts and the patient wants to remove it for the purpose of beauty and slimness, knowing that it is necessary to examine the patient completely to see the extent of harmony and beauty in the increase or decrease. Or she/he necessarily wants to change some facial or body features, knowing that many women see these cosmetic procedures as necessary for them to keep their husbands, or to be successful in getting the right husband. The question: to what extent is this matter legitimate and permissible, knowing that this field also includes beautification from deformities caused by accidents, burns, and others? And are there any specific conditions to remove the suspicion and haram from it? And is the money from these operations permissible? Is it permissible to perform Hajj with it or pray in clothes bought with this money? If the operations are mixed between beautification for the breast - for example - by making it smaller or larger for the purpose of beauty and increasing closeness to the husband, and between beautifying the skin resulting from burns, what is the ruling of the work and the ruling of the money?

Is it permissible for a dental student to learn obstetrics and gynecology as a precaution in case of an emergency where they might need it? Similarly, is it permissible for students of ophthalmology and other fields not out of absolute necessity but due to the possibility of necessity?

A person was circumcised, but there is still a little bit of foreskin left, about the size of a fingernail. Does this count as circumcision, so he does not need to have the rest cut off? It should be noted that the person is now an adult.

What is the ruling of female circumcision, considering the significant controversy surrounding its harm, and at what age should it be done?

Is it obligatory to circumcise women?

What is the ruling of hair transplantation for beardless or bald men?

There is a type of lenses that are placed inside the eye, changing its color, turning the eye's darkness into another color like blue, green, or any other color. The question is, does this constitute altering the creation of Allah? Is it permissible for a woman to use them in front of non-mahram men if she follows someone who allows showing the face?

Is the use of gold teeth permissible for men according to your opinion?

Is it permissible to use antidotes for non-addicts?

What is your honorable opinion on the matter of using drugs, especially heroin, both initially and continuously? What is the ruling of earning from it? Is it impure or pure?

What is the ruling of using tobacco?

What is the ruling of smoking hookah (shisha)?

If a pregnant woman knows from the doctor that smoking affects her fetus, is it permissible for her to smoke during pregnancy?

What is your opinion on someone who pollutes the air of a room or a bus with cigarette smoke while smoking, knowing that the air of the room and the bus belongs to everyone?

What is the ruling if smoking causes harm in public places?

Is smoking considered among the prohibitions? And is it permissible for the wife to seek divorce from a smoking husband or for the husband to divorce a smoking wife?

After knowing about the abundance of accurate reports indicating the harms of smoking, such as the strong correlation between it and lung cancer, arteriosclerosis, or angina, along with the harms that may affect the family and society, what is the ruling of starting smoking and continuing? Is it a precaution to quit, even if it's recommended?

If it is confirmed by reliable medical sources that smoking is a strong factor or one of the strongest factors in causing serious diseases such as lung cancer or heart and brain strokes, does that necessitate the prohibition of starting smoking or continuing?

Some have issued a fatwa declaring smoking as prohibited. What is your opinion on that, knowing that there was a debate between me and another person? I told him: It is true that it is harmful, but it does not reach the level of killing oneself or damaging an organ. He said: It is a slow suicide? How do we respond to this?

Is smoking permissible to begin with? And if someone quits smoking and then returns to it after a period, is this permissible? If someone smokes knowing scientifically the harms of smoking to his health, is he obligated to abstain or not?

How does a smoker know that smoking harms him?

It is medically proved now that smoking has many harmful effects and causes many diseases, including stroke and cancer. Experts in the medical field have confirmed this, and according to reports on this subject, smoking kills (3) million people annually. On the other hand, a report in the World magazine states that the profits of American companies amount to (225) billion dollars annually, thus contributing to strengthening the American enemy. So, is smoking cigarettes prohibited while considering the two previous points?

Is it permissible to start smoking?

What is the ruling of performing cupping therapy, and does it fall under the category of a doctor due to the lack of guarantee regarding whether harm may result from his work on the one being cupped without being negligent, and what is its ruling if he is inexperienced in this?

Is it permissible to watch films that show the process of sexual intercourse, the formation of the fetus, and human childbirth?

What is the ruling of watching scientific films related to the reproductive system, sex, and the process of fertilization, without lust?

What is your stance on conducting some experiments or medical tests on some mentally ill individuals to obtain useful medical results?

In dental implants, some dentists use soft tissues and bones from different animals, including cows and pigs, after being treated with high temperatures and various chemicals. We ask your eminence about the extent of legitimacy of this process, especially with regard to what was taken from the pig?