By
Prof. Aleem Ashraf Jaisi
(Translated
from Urdu by New Age Islam Edit Desk)
28 December
2020
Let me tell
you at the very outset. Islamist fundamentalists have started an unsolicited
debate on the issue of the coronavirus vaccine being ‘un-Islamic’. Fatwas have
been issued by self-styled Muftis which prevent the use of COVID-19 vaccines
for Muslims as something forbidden under the Islamic Shari’ah.
The
"religious sincerity" of these gentlemen, ulema or Islamic clerics
may be beyond doubt. But if you look at their plain statements, there is a
severe lack of knowledge in their arguments with no awareness of the modern
requirements. The fake-news spreaders in the mainstream and social media were
waiting for such irresponsible statements. Thus, for the past several days, the
national media has been characterizing Muslims as ‘ignoramuses’, ‘inferiors’,
‘backward’, and ‘alienated from the national mainstream’. It seems our clerics
do keep our society alienated from real national issues. And it is an
indication of an imminent socio-religious threat, that the misguided Muslims,
much like they were misled by the propaganda against polio vaccinations, will
not allow the country to succeed in the national fight against this global
epidemic.
For the
sake of Allah, please avoid things that would tarnish the image of the nation
and provide opportunities for the sick humankind to be healed. Beware! The holy
Messenger of God, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, ordered the release
of the worst arrogant enemy of Islam only because it could discredit Muslims
and tarnish the image of Islam.
Instead of
spreading conjectures, speculations and conspiracies around the Corona vaccine,
we should first get hold of the factual knowledge on this subject. For example,
religious scholars have repeatedly said that the medicine is ‘made up of pork’
and that it cannot be a cure according to the Islamic edit of "La Tadaa’u
Bil-Haram" (Don’t use haram medications to cure a disease). So, they say,
Covid-19 vaccine is against the Islamic law.
No one has
said that pork has been used in the vaccine. But rather there is a biological
substance called ‘gelatine’ (for which there is no word in any legal language
used by Muslims). It keeps the vaccine safe and valid for longer periods. This
is used as an additional substance in this vaccine. It is not obtained from
pigs only but also from halal animals and plants, as many vaccine makers have
shown. However, the substance derived from pigs - according to them - is more
effective. So, many vaccine companies must have used it. But even if the
substance is taken from a pig, it undergoes several chemical procedures after
which the substance does not remain in its original form. According to many
legal experts and Muslim jurists, an Islamic ruling will change in this case
[i.e. if the substance doesn’t remain intact in its original form].
According
to some scholars, even if it is forbidden [pork-ridden], it is necessarily
permissible according to the rules of Shari'ah. Since this disease is a
contagious global epidemic, it is not permissible to act on the general Islamic
principle on pork, and the rulers must make it obligatory for everyone. For it
involves the safety and survival of all mankind, and it is not possible to save
the world from this insidious virus without involving everyone or most of them.
Therefore,
dozens of Darul iftas (fatwa centres), including the world's most prestigious
Darul Ifta of Egypt, have issued fatwas justifying the use of the vaccine. In
this case, it can be held that statements of some clerics against the vaccine
are sure to bring disgrace to the community. Therefore, whatever your position
may be, whether you consider Covid-19 vaccine Halal or Haram in your heart,
please refrain from speaking out against what God has not forbidden. The
greatest duty for us all is to save the nation from disgrace and thwart the aims
of the wicked people. InshaAllah, there will be many other opportunities for
showing ‘religious sincerity’ or Shari’ah sympathy grabbing media coverage!
-----
Allama
Aleem Ashraf Jaisi is HoD Arabic Department, Maulana Azad National Urdu
University
(The
article was originally written in Urdu by Prof. Aleem Ashraf Jaisi, HoD Arabic
Department, Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad, and has been
translated and slightly edited by New Age Islam Edit Desk)
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