The UAE Fatwa Council recently issued a 'fatwa' (Islamic ruling) to allow the usage of the COVID-19 vaccine in compliance with the objective of Islamic Sharia aimed at protecting the human body and other crucial Islamic rulings.

Under the chairmanship of Shaykh Abdallah bin Bayyah, the Council issued the ruling to address the growing concerns among Muslims over the halal status of the COVID vaccines. The Council took the decision after receiving a request for an advisory opinion by the Minister of Religious Affairs of Malaysia over the issue.

Explaining the issue, the Fatwa Council said that as recommended by the Islamic faith, the Coronavirus vaccination is classified under preventive medicines for individuals. It is particularly crucial in times of pandemic diseases, noting that a healthy individual can be prone to infections due to the high risk of contracting the disease, which significantly poses an increased risk to the entire society, the Council added.

The Council further underlined that the Coronavirus vaccine can be used in line with the implementation of the Islamic rule even though it contains a number of non-halal ingredients that have been banned by Islam. According to the Council, the vaccine in question can be used after permission from the Islamic rule that allows the use of such products in case of a lack of suitable alternatives.

The Council also stressed the highly contagious nature of the COVID-19 disease as a valid justification for using the vaccines in times of such critical circumstances. It added that the pandemic has resulted in severe physical and material damage to the community.

The council also explained that concern medical bodies and healthcare experts have been authorized to examine the side effects of the vaccine. The Fatwa Council went on to appeal to the community to cooperate with their respective governments to help in successfully implementing the vaccination campaigns and comply with the preventive and precautionary measures issued by the authorities to combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

WAM