BY DR MOHAMMAD AIZAT JAMALUDIN International Institute for Halal Research and Training ( INHART ) International Islamic University Malaysia

Malaysia , for instance , is the pioneer and industry leader in the certified halal pharmaceutical sector for its global halal pharmaceutical standards . The Malaysian government has introduced a thorough set of regulations known as the Malaysian Standard MS 2424:2019 of Halal Pharmaceuticals - General Requirements ( First Revision ).

THE CONCEPT OF LIFE-SAVING GUIDED BY MAQASID AL- SHARI ’ AH

According to Mufti of Federal Territory ( 2020 ), Islamic scholars differ on the ruling of obtaining treatment . Their points of view are classified as follows :

• sunnah ( mustahab / encouraged ), wherein this is the opinion of the Shafi ’ i school of thought and narration in the Hanbali school of thought ,

• mubah ( permissible ), wherein this is the opinion of Hanafi , Maliki , and narration in Hanbali schools of thought ,

• wajib ( obligatory ), wherein this is the opinion of Zahiri school of thought and narration in Hanafi and Shafi ’ i schools of thought . Allah the Almighty says in the Quran ,

“… and whoever saves one , it is as if he had saved mankind entirely …” [ Q . Al-Maidah , 5 : 32 ]

The concept of “ life-saving ” is one of the primary principles of Maqasid al- Shari ’ ah since health provides humans with a huge responsibility , for which human beings are accountable to God on the day of judgment .

In line with the life-saving concept , using najs is allowed in some situations .

One The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore ( 2020 ) stated that there are circumstances that allow the usage of impure ( najs ) materials for treatment , as evident within some Prophetic traditions , wherein the production would have undergone multiple layers of chemical processes , such as filtration process which would render them ( the najs materials ) undetectable within the final product , in this case , according to Islamic jurisprudence , these procedures are similar to al-Istihalah ( the transformation ), and in such circumstances , the final product is deemed lawful for Muslim use and no longer forbidden .

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PREVENTION OF DISEASE AND QUALITY OF LIFE

Prevention of a disease is a must because one is being accountable to God . This translates into the emphasis on maintaining the quality of life , which in turn preserves life ( hifz al-nafs ).

In a hadith , Prophet Muhammad ( pbuh ) said : “ No one will be allowed to move from his position on the day of judgement until he has been asked how he spent his money and in what pursuits he used his health .” [ al-Tirmidhi on the authority of Abu Barzah al-Aslami ]

THE FRATERNITIES OF HALAL PHARMACEUTICALS

Halal pharmaceuticals are those which adhere to Islamic law ’ s requirements . In Malaysia , halal pharmaceuticals are also required to follow the norms and regulations of the Drug Control Authority . Some researchers mentioned that there is still much to be done within the pharmaceutical industry to raise awareness of halal consistently .

Meanwhile , health authorities and halal certification bodies must ensure they are working in sync to ensure the accreditation process is well-regulated and harmonised to grow the halal pharmaceutical market .

Undoubtedly , there is still a lack of awareness about halal pharmaceuticals , medications , and cosmetics at various relevant degrees , including among patients , pharmacists , doctors , and legislators .

It is a concern that Muslim patients ’ rights , including the right to halal medication , are frequently compromised , forcing these patients to accept whatever treatment they receive .

To counter this , halal certification and labelling have emerged as one of the consumer ’ s sources of information to prevent any deception where the pharmaceuticals should be labelled or included with an information booklet to tell the consumer about any potential dangers of the products .

While the halal authority body - the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia ( JAKIM ) - issues the halal

In Malaysia , halal pharmaceuticals are also required to follow the norms and regulations of the Drug Control Authority . ”

certifications , the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency ( NPRA ) ensures pharmaceuticals ’ quality , efficacy , and safety through the registration and licensing scheme .

This is accomplished through the evaluation of scientific data and laboratory tests on all products before they are marketed , the establishment of a system to monitor products in the market , and the dissemination of drug information to the medical profession and patients through a drug information centre .

Malaysian Pharmacists Society President Amrahi Buang , also mentioned that for pharmaceutical products to be halal-certified , they must meet the necessary safety , efficacy , quality , and hygiene requirements , and hence , these four requirements are also known as toyyiban elements from shari ’ ah view .

COLLABORATION AS A KEY TO INCREASED AWARENESS AND ACCEPTANCE

To sum up , awareness of the significance and value of halal-certified pharmaceuticals should be raised across all stakeholders , from professionals , healthcare practitioners , patients , and consumers .

There is also an urgent need for a collaborative effort between pharmaceutical companies , halal certification bodies , and religious scholars to ensure the effective implementation and widespread availability of halal pharmaceuticals .–

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