Jeddah (UNA-OIC) – The General Secretariat of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy (IIFA) held recently a medical jurisprudential seminar to answer inquiries about the Sharia ruling on the use of new COVID-19 vaccines and disbursement of Zakat funds to buy vaccines and finance their distribution among the poor.
The two inquiries were raised by the General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Islamic Development Bank Group (IsDB).
“The medical jurisprudential seminar to explain the Sharia ruling on the use of the new vaccines for vaccination against COVID-19 and financing its distribution from Zakat funds for the poor,” the IIFA said in a statement published on its official website.
- The Fiqh seminar concluded after discussions and deliberations between the virtuous jurists and doctors that the use of the current vaccines against COVID-19 is permissible in Islam, and their use becomes obligatory upon everyone if the authorities oblige to do so. Thus, Muslims are obliged to be respectful and obedient to the instructions of their authorities especially with regard to issues related to the public interest particularly the protection of human life. Accordingly, the seminar called on Muslims around the world to abide by the instructions issued by the public health authorities in their communities in order to safeguard their lives and the lives of others.
- As for the disbursement of Zakat funds to buy vaccines and finance their distribution to the poor people and nations, the seminar decided that it is legally permissible to do so. This is due to the fact that the novel coronavirus pandemic is a global danger that threatens all humanity. Therefore, it must be combated with all permissible material and moral means. The portion of the Zakat that should be utilized is under the recipient called “for the sake of God”. The share of this recipient could be used to buy vaccines and finance their distribution among the poor.
The seminar was chaired by Sheikh Dr. Saleh bin Abdullah bin Hamid, member of the Senior Scholars Council, imam and preacher of the Grand Mosque and IIFA president. The discussions and deliberations were moderated during the seminar by IIFA Secretary-General Prof. Koutoub Moustapha Sano, in the attendance of a pool of senior male and female scholars, IIFA members and experts, as well as specialized physicians.
To view the full text of the final statement and the recommendations of the seminar, you may kindly click the below link:
https://www.iifa-aifi.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IIFA-Symposium-on-Anti-Covid-19-Vaccines-Feb-2021.pdf
