Islamic ethics of organ transplantation and brain death.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the most conservative Islamic country, is playing a major role in formulating ethical Islamic jurisprudence views and rules in the rapidly expanding field of organ transplantation, and in implementing these new rules in its proliferating centers. The Islamic O' Sool or fundamentals of Islamic jurisprudence through which the jurists reach their rulings are discussed briefly. The historical background of the Islamic jurists' views on organ transplantation and the recent Fatwas (decrees) are highlighted. The conditions needed for allowing both cadaveric and living donors are discussed.