By Abdul Bari Masoud
New Delhi: Amid concerns among Muslims regarding the covid-19 vaccine contains ingredients derived from pork fat, Shariah Council of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) on Thursday issued guidelines on the permissibility of using COVID-19 vaccines under Islamic law.
The council did not issue specific directive regarding the ‘non-use’ of the present corona vaccine developed by the some Western pharmaceutical companies but it emphasized that Islam gives great importance to human life and also emphasizes on its protection. Allah says: ‘And do not kill each other or yourselves’ (Quran- 4: 29).
In the light of this Quarnic injection, the Shariah Council headed by world renowned Islamic scholar, Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari drafted seven-point guidelines. It stated that the use of Gelatine derived from the body part of a haram (forbidden) animal has been considered to be permissible by Islamic jurists. Same is the opinion of some jurists about pork Gelatine.
Various pharmaceutical companies worldwide are finalizing COVID-19 vaccines and even several countries have started their mass immunization programmes. The Indian health authority has also announced that vaccination will begin soon and multinational companies have requested the government to allow them to use the vaccine. However, the reports of the extract of pork fat in vaccines, have raised concerns among Muslims.
The guidelines issued by the Sharia Council’s President Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari and Secretary Maulana Dr.Raziul Islam Nadvi, said, “according to some sources, the corona vaccine contains ingredients derived from pork fat. From an Islamic point of view, a pig is completely impure and unclean. Many people have requested the Shariah Council to give Islamic guidance in this matter. After deliberating on the matter with other scholars of the council, following guidelines have been issued.”
The guidelines issued by the Sharia council:
- Experiments are taking place in various countries and many companies are working on developing the vaccine. It is not sure that pork fat is used in every vaccine. Muslims are too involved among the scientists and doctors who are preparing the vaccines. Recently, news came from Turkey that a Muslim scientist couple had detected the vaccine. On this basis, it is expected that such a vaccine will be made of only halal ingredients.
- Islam gives great importance to human life and also emphasizes on its protection. Allah says: ‘And do not kill each other or yourselves’ (Quran- 4: 29).
- Islam instructs proper treatment of illness.
- Islam has clearly outlined limits of permissible and impermissible things. It is mandatory to abide by these limitations even during ailments or while taking precautionary measures. That is why the use of any forbidden substance as a medicine is prohibited.
- If an impermissible object is transformed into another thing, totally different in properties and characters, may be considered as clean and permissible. On this basis, the use of Gelatine derived from the body part of a haram animal has been considered to be permissible by Islamic jurists. Same is the opinion of some jurists about pork Gelatine.
- Even those jurists who oppose this transformation rule, too sanction a vaccine which contains prohibited substances in case of unavailability of halal vaccines, in dire and emergency situations to protect human life.
- The source of ingredients of the popular vaccines, which have been made public, is not yet known with certainty. After becoming fully aware of it, guidelines regarding its use on non-use will be issued.”
Alhamdulillah the clerics spoke intelligently.
Millions of Muslims will first time take in the Pork fat in the form of vaccines. Muslims must decide if this is Halal. Their call.