FatwaFederal TerritoriesFunerals & Death
AL-KAFI #717 : HUKUM MEMOTONG DAN MENYIMPAN TALI PUSAT BAYI SELEPAS LAHIR
What is the ruling on cutting and keeping a baby's umbilical cord after birth?
Short answer
The umbilical cord is regarded as part of the newborn's body, so burying it is originally recommended, like nails, hair and cupping blood, out of respect for the human body.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Federal Territories Mufti Office
- Date
- Status
- Opinion (irsyad)
- Series
- Al-Kafi li al-Fatawi
- Topic
- Funerals & Death
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
The umbilical cord is regarded as part of the newborn's body, so burying it is originally recommended, like nails, hair and cupping blood, out of respect for the human body. Cutting the cord after birth is obligatory, as cited from Matla` al-Badrayn. Keeping it without purpose or merely as a keepsake is disliked, it is permissible for medical purposes proven by specialists such as stem cell treatment, and it is forbidden if kept for superstitious beliefs with no basis in Islam.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Makruh hukumnya menyimpan tali pusat bayi jika tanpa tujuan atau sebagai kenangan.
Read the full fatwa on the Federal Territories website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Federal Territories Mufti Office. “AL-KAFI #717 : HUKUM MEMOTONG DAN MENYIMPAN TALI PUSAT BAYI SELEPAS LAHIR”, 1 March 2018. https://muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/al-kafi-li-al-fatawi/2322-al-kafi-716-hukum-memotong-dan-menyimpan-tali-pusat-bayi-selepas-lahir. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/ruling-cutting-keeping-baby-umbilical-cord/