In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Ever Merciful…
Recently, we learned from our respected scholar, Shaykh ‘Abdullah al-Bukhary (may Allah preserve him), that the scholarly differing over the permissibility of vaccines had actually come to an end long ago, when he informed us:
فقد تكلم أهل العلم حول هذه القضية منذ زمن طويل لما بدأ ظهر أمر اللقاحات حصل بين ذلك أخذ وعطاء فيما مضى، ثم استقر الأمر على أن هذا الأمر من الأمور التي لا تنافي التوكل ولا تضادُّه، إنما هي من الأخذ بالأسباب الشرعية
“…The people of knowledge have indeed spoken about this issue, a long time ago, when the issue of vaccinations first came about. Some back and forth discussion took place in the past, until the matter was settled, that this is one of those issues that does not invalidate tawakkul (trusting Allah) nor contradict it. It is merely an issue of taking legislated steps [of safety]…”
This was surprising for many to learn about, as some had presumed that the scholars still differed over this topic. One might say: “Perhaps Shaykh Abdullah al-Bukhary misspoke when saying this, as we have not heard this from the people of knowledge (other than him), and claiming consensus is a very serious issue, as an established consensus among the scholars actually ends the discussion.”
So in order to support the claim of Shaykh Abdullah al-Bukhary, we present a previous citation of scholarly consensus on the permissibility of vaccines from a senior scholar, al-‘Allaamah Saalih al-Fowzaan, long-time member of al-Lajnah ad-Daa’imah (the Permanent Committee) for Islamic Verdicts and Research (may Allah preserve him), from his lessons on the book, Buloogh al-Maraam, which he delivered about 20 years ago. When discussing the topic of the scholarly differing about vaccines and the concerns mentioned by some of the scholars previously, as cited in the book, ad-Durar as-Saniyyah, he clarified:
ولكن بعد ذلك تبين خصوصا بعدما تقدم الطب وجاءت الوسائل الحديثة تبين أنه لا حرج فيه ولا مانع منه، والحمد لله. ولا أحد الآن من العلماء المعتبرين في هذه البلاد، أو في غيرها على ما بلغنا، يمنع من هذا، يمنع من التطعيم، لأنه ثبتت فائدته ولا محظور فيه شرعا، ولأنه من الوقاية، والله جل وعلا أمر باتخاذ الأسباب، والوقاية سبب من الأسباب، نعم.
…However, after that [differing], it became clear, especially after advancements in medicine and the arrival of modern means [of technology, research, etc.], it became clear that there is no harm in it, and nothing prevents it, and all praise is due to Allah. And there is no one at this time from among the scholars who are relied upon in these lands, or elsewhere outside of these lands, based on what has reached us, who forbids this, who forbids vaccines, since their benefit has been established, there is no danger (or concern) Islamically within them, and since they are a form of prevention [of illness]. Allah, the Majestic and Most High, has ordered [us] to take preventative measures, and preventative measures are among the steps [taken to obtain safety].
Source: Lesson #20 from an older series of classes on Kitaab at-Tahaarah from Buloogh al-Maraam, at about 39 minutes, as found below:
This quote from Shaykh Saalih al-Fowzaan is quite significant on this topic, as it includes:
- Recognition of the previous scholarly concerns and differing
- Clarification of how that differing ended (with advances in medicine and studies which proved vaccines to be beneficial)
- Negation of any remaining differing over the permissibility of vaccines
Furthermore, it is important to know that our senior-most scholars living through this current pandemic have encouraged the Muslims to get vaccinated against Covid-19. The top, most authoritative scholars, whom the other scholars refer to in these nawaazil cases of serious emergencies like this pandemic, the likes of Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez Aal Shaykh and Shaykh Saalih al-Fowzaan (may Allah preserve them), have received the vaccine publicly and encouraged the Muslims to get vaccinated, reminding us that these vaccines are from Allah’s Blessings. [See: this and this.]
Additionally, we simply do not know of a single recognized scholar on this earth today who is advising against the Covid-19 vaccine.
We hope this helps our brothers and sisters understand the matter more clearly, and Allah is the One responsible for guiding whomever He favors. May He, the Exalted and Most High, guide us to what is correct in the affairs the people differ in, indeed He truly knows best.
Written by: Moosaa Richardson (1443.05.30)
FURTHER RESOURCES ON THE TOPIC OF COVID-19 REGULATIONS AND ISLAM:
Is it Sinful to Discourage People From Taking the Covid-19 Vaccine? [Shaykh Abdullah al-Bukhary]
The Return to Connected Rows (Without Gaps) at the Two Sacred Mosques in Makkah and al-Madeenah
PDF: Nine Advices As Relates the Novel Coronavirus by the Mufti Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez Aal Shaykh
PDF: Advice of Shaykh ‘Abdullah al-Bukhari About Coronavirus
Video: Healthy, Realistic, Practical Optimism During the Coronavirus Outbreak (Youtube)
PDF: Fleeing From the Decree to the Decree [Rahmaaniyyah, Abul-Hasan Maalik]
Video: Don’t Downplay the Seriousness of the Coronavirus! (Youtube)
MP3 Audio: Key Lessons About the Coronavirus [Hassan Somali]
PDF: The Issue of Contagion – An Islamic Perspective [Taqweem Aslam]
Article: What Blessings Could Come From the Closing of Masjids?!
Khutbah: Coronavirus – How Muslims Understand it & Other Epidemics
MP3 Audio: Q&A About Coronavirus Conspiracy Theorists [Hassan Somali]
Sh. Muqbil mentioned that it is more befitting to abandon vaccinations and put ones trust in Allah: https://www.muqbel.net/fatwa.php?fatwa_id=675
OK, so let’s be sure we are representing his position accurately, may Allah reward him and have Mercy on him! Aside from his encouragement to place one’s trust in Allah, he actually clarified the ruling on vaccines [in the link you have provided], saying these exact words:
لكن هذا التطعيم وما أشبهه من باب الوقاية ولا بأس بذلك إن شاء الله لا يبلغ حد الحرمة ولا حد الكراهة
However, these vaccinations and what resemble them of preventative [steps] have no problems with them, in shaa’ Allah. They do not reach the level of being impermissible, nor do they reach the level of [even] being dislliked…”
So, since the shaykh (may Allah have Mercy on him) has explicitly stated that vaccines are NOT haraam (impermissible) nor makrooh (discouraged), where does that leave them, if you are indeed concerned with the ruling of Shaykh Muqbil on vaccines?
I can answer, if neither haram/makrooh, you can apply what the Messenger, may Allah raises his rank and grant him peace, said: “Be viligent / Strive for what benefits you” [Ibn Majah #79].
If you can scientificaly establish that vaccine benefits, be vigilent on it. And I also understand that if a vaccine may benefits, weighted with their priorities, the scientifical community should thus strive to check it scientifically, then spreat it.
Yes, and this has been done, quite diligently, wal-hamdu lillaah. Our brothers at the Saudi Health Department, with tens of thousands of Muslim health experts, researchers, and physicians, have studied the matter very carefully, showing serious concern for the health and welfare of the Muslims. Their conclusion was that the vaccine is beneficial, and this is what the Muslim leaders and scholars have endorsed, as they encourage the Muslims to get vaccinated and facilitate that, may Allah reward them well. (Other Muslim countries have health departments that have looked into the matter as well, and they have come to the same conclusion.) And Allah knows best.
The very components the pfizer vaccine is made of are very questionable, documents from the company were leaked and they expose that they made this vaccine using cells of aborted human fetuses [Admin: Misinformation debunked and clarified long ago.]
You might want to review some fact-checking articles about this claim (it has been debunked and clarified). And remind yourself and whoever sent that to you about what the Mufti (may Allah preserve him) advised:
POINT 6: Avoiding rumors and frightening people… What is mandatory is that one takes information from competent authorities, just as it is mandatory upon him to ask the people of knowledge about that which is problematic or unclear to him of religious rulings whether that is pertinent to acts of worship or interpersonal dealings. Allah (the Exalted and Most High) said [what means]: “Ask ahl al-dhikr (i.e., those with knowledge) if you do not know.” [al-Naḥl: 43].
SOURCE: https://www.bakkah.net/en/nine-advices-as-relates-the-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic-shaykh-abdul-azeez-aal-shaykh.htm
And you should know that the Pfizer vaccine specifically was approved for use in Saudi Arabia. Tens of thousands of Muslim doctors and health experts cooperate to take care of a Muslim country’s health needs, so benefit from them! They rigorously tested the vaccines in use there on thousands of test subjects before approving any vaccine. The Saudi Health Ministry about Covid-19 & vaccines: https://www.moh.gov.sa/en/Ministry/HotTopics/Pages/COVID-19-Vaccine.aspx
And also see this recent post on Twitter: https://twitter.com/1MMeducation/status/1479106474508832778
And as Shaykh ‘Abdullah al-Bukhary (may Allah preserve him) said recently:
“So the leader has entrusted the issue to them, and they are experts, specialists, and clinicians, who are upright Muslims who pray and pay zakaat, upon the correct creed! How could I leave their position for someone here or there, or way over there?! Someone whose motives are unknown, and perhaps even his origin, speaking and rambling ignorantly. The only proof or evidence he has is the statement of Zayd or ‘Amr among the people, and Allah knows best about them.”
SOURCE: https://www.bakkah.net/en/is-it-sinful-to-discourage-people-from-taking-the-covid-19-vaccine-shaykh-abdullah-al-bukhary.htm
You tried to say that social distancing and vaccines are obligatory, but now you are trying to cover that up and say its just permissible… [comment abridged by admin]
As for distancing in the prayer during these days, then our scholars have said this is something necessary. Shaykh Saalih al-Fowzaan even stated that it is waajib [obligatory] in these times [when Covid-19 is spreading].
“…So they must keep a distance from each other, until the reason [for these protocols] no longer remains. Then, they can go back to coming close together. This is something which Allah has legislated for them. These two matters are obligatory – offering worship and following protocols of safety. These are among the things that Allah has ordered to be done, as found in His Statement, the Most High [which means], “Take your precautions” [4:71] This means: From everything that harms you; be warned of it, and stay away from it. From the generality of that is: Physical closeness between the Muslims during these days, as what is legislated is distancing for health concerns. This is from what Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, has made obligatory – Taking necessary steps for safety, following precautionary health protocols, and taking the advice of doctors. All of these matters are from what Allah, the Exalted and Most High, has made obligatory upon the Muslims…”
Source: Social Distancing During These Times is an Obligation From Allah; It Only Increases Our Love for One Another
And Shaykh Arafaat al-Muhammadi said that it is a must to practice social distancing in these circumstances, in the following article:
https://www.bakkah.net/en/one-who-cannot-wear-a-mask-during-the-covid-19-pandemic-is-excused-from-congregational-prayers.htm
As for your claim that I have said vaccines are obligatory (?!), then please provide proof of your claim, or be known as a liar. For some reason, in this pandemic, when we should be more repenting and pious, to regain the lost favors of Allah, many of our brothers and sisters have actually become more oppressive and reckless than ever before. And this is something which indicates our community’s overall decline in faith and that perhaps we deserve to be deprived more and more from the favors of Allah, and we beg Him to guide us and our brothers and correct us, and to make us deserving of His tremendous favors. And Allah knows best.
Ustadh… The word obligation may not have been used, but those who were on the opposite end knew very clearly how you felt… [comment abridged by admin]
For the record: I have not stated nor implied that the Covid-19 vaccine is obligatory. I recommended it, only after the scholars of Islam recommended it. I remained silent about it until I saw the scholars recommending it. This is how we must be in any naazilah (crisis/emergency); we stay behind our scholars, and allow them to lead the Ummah.
See: These tweets: [1] [2] [3].
Again: Anyone claiming that I said the vaccine was obligatory can provide evidence, or be known as a liar. You can be a liar with unfounded claims, too! As for creative interpretations of “how I felt…”, (“We knew clearly how you felt…”) then this is just baseless conjecture. Academic criticism in Islam begins with clarity, not baseless assumptions. May Allah guide and correct those who slander their brothers.
السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته
May Allah bless you for the hardworking you are doing to spread the correct position of the scholars.
I have a question Ustadh.
There is a friend of mine who was sharing some opinions against the views of the authority.
Such as pregnant women should not take vaccination and it is harmful for them.
He claimed that a trustworthy Muslim doctor from his country said him, so he spread this message. He lives in Saudi Arabia currently. Is it permissible to share such opinions claiming it is from a trustworthy muslim person?
Sometimes he shares some opinions and claim it came in mainstream media, so nothing wrong in it. Is this correct?
وعليكم السلام ورحمة الله وبركاته
Since this person lives in Saudi Arabia, I would advise that the individual opinion from elsewhere be referred to the Saudi Health Department for review and evaluation. If it is found to be good advice, then there are many pregnant women who would need to know about this, and their welfare is a concern to us as well. As for warning against the vaccine in general, after it has been found to be helpful overall and beneficial, then this a contradiction to the advice of established Muslim health experts and the scholars of Islam, and it is sinful according to Shaykh Abdullah al-Bukhary, as found here: https://www.bakkah.net/en/is-it-sinful-to-discourage-people-from-taking-the-covid-19-vaccine-shaykh-abdullah-al-bukhary.htm And Allah knows best.
From the Saudi Health Ministry‘s official website:
Is the vaccine safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women? Should pregnancy be postponed after receiving the vaccine?
Based on recent scientific studies and recommendations, it is safe for pregnant woman to take the vaccine. There is also no need to postpone the pregnancy after taking the vaccine. It is also believed that the vaccine poses no risk to breastfeeding. Moreover, it is recommended to give breastfeeding mothers the vaccine if there are no contraindications.
Source: https://www.moh.gov.sa/en/Ministry/HotTopics/Pages/COVID-19-Vaccine.aspx
Jazakallahu Khaira for the response Ustadh. I missed a point : he doesn’t warn against Vaccination completely. He warned against it for the pregnant women only. It goes against the view of the authority.
As-salaam ‘alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatu Ustaadh, how do we reconcile what you are saying with what is being reported by reliable government websites such as the VAERS reporting system in the United States which stated that adverse reactions to the vaccines are now over one million?
Al-hamdu lillaah the data is public and can only be reported by doctors and nurses.
Wa ‘alaykum as-Salaamu wa rahmatullaah wa barakaatuh. May Allah reward you for seeking clarification. Perhaps others might have heard this misinformation as well, and they will likewise benefit from the answer, in shaa’ Allah. We should be very critical and investigative in these matters, as many claims are circulated these days without being fact-checked, and our Deen requires more precision and caution from us, especially in matters which could potentially harm many people when misrepresented.
Information in the VAERS Database is raw data, to be verified, studied, and interpreted by health experts, and it is absolutely not true that only doctors and nurses can add reports to it. From their website: “The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) is a passive reporting system, meaning it relies on individuals to send in reports of their experiences. Anyone can submit a report to VAERS, including parents and patients.”
Also, “When evaluating data from VAERS, it is important to note that for any reported event, no cause-and-effect relationship has been established. Reports of all possible associations between vaccines and adverse events (possible side effects) are filed in VAERS. Therefore, VAERS collects data on any adverse event following vaccination, be it coincidental or truly caused by a vaccine. The report of an adverse event to VAERS is not documentation that a vaccine caused the event…”
And: “VAERS reports can be submitted voluntarily by anyone, including healthcare providers, patients, or family members. Reports vary in quality and completeness. They often lack details and sometimes can have information that contains errors… A report to VAERS generally does not prove that the identified vaccine(s) caused the adverse event described. It only confirms that the reported event occurred sometime after vaccine was given. No proof that the event was caused by the vaccine is required in order for VAERS to accept the report. VAERS accepts all reports without judging whether the event was caused by the vaccine…”
You might want to check some fact-checking articles about the individual claim you have heard as well (it has been clarified and disproven). But most importantly, remember what the Mufti (may Allah preserve him) advised:
POINT 6: Avoiding rumors and frightening people… What is mandatory is that one takes information from competent authorities, just as it is mandatory upon him to ask the people of knowledge about that which is problematic or unclear to him of religious rulings whether that is pertinent to acts of worship or interpersonal dealings. Allah (the Exalted and Most High) said [what means]: “Ask ahl al-dhikr (i.e., those with knowledge) if you do not know.” [al-Naḥl: 43].
SOURCE: https://www.bakkah.net/en/nine-advices-as-relates-the-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic-shaykh-abdul-azeez-aal-shaykh.htm
The Saudi Health Ministry about Covid-19 & vaccines: https://www.moh.gov.sa/en/Ministry/HotTopics/Pages/COVID-19-Vaccine.aspx Tens of thousands of Muslim doctors and health experts cooperate to take care of this Muslim country’s health needs, so benefit from them! They rigorously tested the vaccines in use there on thousands of test subjects before approving the vaccine.
السلام عليكم ورحمةالله وبركاته
Ustadh is it safe to say that none of the reports on VAERS establish a causal relationship between the vaccine and serious side effects? Is it also safe to say that any data that does so, is probably fabricated?
وعليكم السلام ورحمة الله وبركاته
As mentioned previously, it is raw wiki-data, to be sorted out, validated, and interpreted by those who are qualified to do so.
السلام عليكم ورحمةالله وبركاته
Dear Ustaadh may Allaah be good upon you, I have two questions;
1. How to respond to those who claim that the vaccines in Saudi Arabia are different than the ones in the US and UK, they might have the same name but they are different ones, therefore (doses in the West) they are not safe?
2. How to respond to those who claim that ‘Allaamah ‘Abdullaah al-Bukhaaree when he declared sinful those who urge people against vaccines, he was speaking only for those who reside in Saudi Arabia?
Jazaak Allaahu khayran.
وعليكم السلام ورحمة الله وبركاته
1. This is another claim that needs proof.
2. Another claim that needs proof, but just read the article, really. The shaykh said that vaccines are an established sabab (means of safety) by scholarly consensus [after differing which ended], and he applied Ibn al-Qayyim’s words, “Abandoning precautions amounts to a flaw in intellect.” I do not understand why this would only apply in Saudi Arabia. And the article is full of benefit in general, so review it here: https://www.bakkah.net/en/is-it-sinful-to-discourage-people-from-taking-the-covid-19-vaccine-shaykh-abdullah-al-bukhary.htm And Allah knows best.
technological medical advancements and Aqida: What is the ruling on those scientists or supporters/believers of such scientists who speculate that someday fetuses/babies could be conceived, developed and carried until birth in artificial wombs (such as one model that was tried out on some premature lambs) without need for a woman and her real womb to undergo the health risks of pregnancy as they claim?
– of course , the original womb will always be the best however: Is belief in such technological advancements being possible just the same as matters that exist today like IVF and cloning, or is it conflicting with the Qur’aan to believe this (such as Darwin’s ‘evolution’) could be possible? Please let us know, Ustadh.
Such an issue is for medical experts to study in direct consultation with the Muslim scholars, in order to harness any legitimate benefit for mankind, while shunning what is harmful and counter-productive. Whatever advances Allah allows His worshippers to achieve, the humble scientist should thank his Creator, the One who facilitated such benefits for people. As for medical or technological advancements being some kind of proof against the Quran, or something that proves evolution and disproves creation (!), then this is a baseless fantasy of the obnoxious atheists.