Russian Religious Board of Muslims to issue a fatwa on vaccination in cases when vaccines contain substances forbidden by Islam

02 February 2021

 

The Council of Ulema (theologians) of the Religious Board of Muslims of Russia will issue a fatwa (theological opinion) on the cases when Muslims will be allowed to be vaccinated with vaccines against coronavirus, if they contain components prohibited for use by believers, Ildar Alyautdinov, the deputy chairman of the council and chairman of the Moscow Religious Board, wrote about it on his Facebook page.


"It will be possible to talk about the permissibility (halal) or forbidden (haram) of Russian vaccines only after studying their composition and all possible alternatives. <...> If components prohibited by Islam are found, the Council of Ulema will develop a detailed theological opinion explaining the situations when vaccination will be allowed," Alyautdinov wrote.


This, he explained, is due to the duty of Muslims to pay special attention to the preservation of human life and health. "Not every medicine or vaccine is allowed from the point of view of Islam. If they contain prohibited components, their use is unacceptable. The only exception is when there is a direct threat to human life and health and there is no alternative," added the deputy chairman of the Council of Ulema.


At this stage, the Mufti noted, it is important for Muslims to know the composition of the components, as well as whether they have undergone chemical processing, in which substances lose their natural properties. "We hope that the composition of vaccines will not contradict the principles of Islam, which means that Muslims will have a choice," he concluded.


Earlier, the Council of Ulema, due to a large number of questions from believers, requested information from Alexander Gintsburg, director of the Gamaleya Center, about the composition of the Sputnik V vaccine in order to determine whether Muslims are allowed to use it.

 

GSV "Russia - Islamic World"

Photo: sputnikvaccine.com

Based on materials from TASS