KUALA LUMPUR: A Muslim donating blood during Ramadan does not mean he is breaking the fast. It is in fact a blessed act.

The eminent Islamic scholar Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi says: "Blood donation is the best assistance a man can offer a patient who needs a blood transfusion due to blood loss or surgery.

Donating blood is a highly esteemed deed, as it saves the life of a human being whether he is a Muslim or not.

"Its virtue is explicitly clarified in the Quranic verse in which Allah  says: 'Whosoever killeth a human being for other than manslaughter or corruption in the earth, it shall be as if he had killed all mankind, and who so saveth the life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind' (Al-Ma'idah: 32)."

The National Blood Bank is calling on Muslims to continue donating blood during the fasting month because it needs to stockpile blood for daily needs and emergencies, and also for the long holidays next month.

"Donating blood is a noble deed and one can donate blood while fasting if one is strong. We recommend that Muslims donate after breaking fast in the evening," blood bank director Datuk Dr Yasmin Ayob told the New Straits Times.

She said the blood bank was making special arrangements for Muslims who wished to donate blood.

If any organisation or a group of more than 10 Muslims from a particular place don't have transport, that will be provided to ferry them to the blood bank and back.

"We are prepared to provide transport anywhere within Klang Valley, including Klang," said Dr Yasmin.

She added that the blood bank's mobile teams were ready to go if Muslims were prepared to combine a buka puasa  gathering with a blood donation drive.

"We are prepared to mobilise our blood bank team even at night if there are enough donors," she said, adding that yesterday the stockpile at the bank stood at a little over 3,000 units.

Dr Yasmin said it needed that amount of blood every day, and sometimes more, depending on the demand from  government and private hospitals. She said other states  were organising their own blood donation campaigns. So far, the blood bank has not received an SOS.

Those who want transport or are organising blood donation campaigns during the fasting month can contact E. Efim, Mohd Noor Samion or Syed Rostam Syed Elias at 03-26955558 or 26955559 during office hours.

To accommodate those fasting, the National Blood Bank has extended its working hours on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 8am to 9pm, and on  Saturdays from 7.30am to 4pm. The blood bank will be open during office hours on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Dr Yasmin said the bank's chief concern was during Hari Raya Puasa and the holidays that fall on the weekend of Oct 13 and 14.

The demand for blood is expected to be higher than normal because more people will be on the roads and a higher number of traffic accidents is expected.

The blood bank will be open on Oct 15 and 16 from 7.30am to 5pm.