APRIL, 2019 | Th e HEALTH
ISSUE: VACCINE
13
Vaccination
according to Islam
Th ere has been numerous
eff orts by the government
to clarify the importance of
vaccines, and how it is viewed
according to Islam
E
VEN though it has been proven that vac-
cines provide great benefi ts against deadly
diseases, there are pockets within the
society that are taking a stand against them.
Th is has presented them and the people
around them with risks of sever diseases.
It is highly encouraged in Islam for Muslims to
protect the fi ve main factors in life in accordance to
the Maqasid Syar’iyyah. It includes religion, life, mind,
ancestry, and wealth. Th e protection and preservation
of the fi ve factors stated is an important eff ort to
be made by Muslims to determine his or her Islamic
Syariat.
Th erefore, any type of eff ort to prevent things that
can harm our health and livelihood is positively encour-
aged by Islam, as long as it does not oppose Islamic
values.
Are vaccines allowed in Islam?
It all comes down to what vaccines are, and what
immunisation does to us. As the preservation of our
health and life is encouraged in Islam, it would be
safe to say that vaccination is defi nitely allowed in
Islam. Vaccines has been proven to protect us from
life-threatening diseases such as measles, tuberculosis,
pertussis, diphtheria, tetanus, and polio.
Th e use of vaccines in our country’s immunisa-
tion programme has been deemed permissible and
encouraged under the laws of Islam, in accordance to
the Fiqhiyyah methods. Th e Fiqhiyyah method entails
the ‘rejection of damage should be made a priority as
appose to fi nding benefi ts.’
Th e need to get vaccinated is also in accordance to
the teachings of Allah: And spend in the way of Allah
and do not throw [yourselves] with your [own] hands
into destruction [by refraining]. And do good; indeed,
Allah loves the doers of good. Al-Baqarah [2:195]
Th is shows that the immunisation programme is not
of individual’s own interest, but rather a need for the
society in its entirety.
The National Council Fatwa
Committee’s regularity
Th e phenomenon where parents are declining immuni-
sation for their children is tremendously alarming.
Th eir action will not only endanger their children, but
will put other people around them at signifi cant risk of
life-threatening diseases as well.
In the matter of safety for the lives of the people, the
teachings of Islam puts it at the utmost importance.
Islam commands that any ailments are to be
prevented, treated, and medicated. Th erefore in this
context, it is in line with Islaming teachings to prevent
any type of danger that could compromise the well-
being of people.
Based on the regulations already set in Islamic teach-
ings above, the discussion within the National Council
Fatwa Committee regarding the use of vaccines as a
prevention from diseases has already resulted in a few
guidelines.
Vaccines are permitted
and encouraged
Th e National Council Fatwa Committee continuously
oversees the use of vaccines in Malaysia, as the sub-
stance used to develop it is varied depending on each
vaccines. As of now, the vaccines used for our national
immunisation programme has been deemed safe and
in line with Islamic values.
Th e 24th Discussion by the National Council Fatwa
Committee for Islamic Aff airs Malaysia in 1989 had
already decided upon the immunisation from measles,
tuberculosis, pertussis, diphtheria, tetanus, and polio.
Th e national immunisation programme that was to
be implemented is deemed permitted and encouraged,
due to how it is line with the Islamic values of ‘rejec-
tion of damage should be made a priority as appose to
fi nding benefi ts’.
Hepatitis B Immunisation
The committee have decided that the Hepatitis B
vaccine, made through the cultivation of yeast, is per-
missible and encouraged to be used as a preventative
measure.
Rubella Immunisation
Th e same can be said for the rubella vaccine, as the ones
used under the Ministry of Health’s programme has
been deemed permissible and encouraged to be used
as a preventative measure against rubella.
Besides the diseases stated above, other newer
vaccines have also been regulated by the committee.
Such vaccines are the Meningitis Menomune vaccine,
Meningococcal Meningitis vaccine (the version culti-
vated through cow-based substance), and the Human
Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. — Th e health