Answered by Shaykh Yūsuf Badāt
Question:
Are there any writings or documented reports of Deoband affiliated akābir (elder scholars of the past and present) regarding vaccines and vaccinations?
Answer:
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم
In the name of Allāh, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
Jazāk Allāh Khayr/ Thank you for contacting Mathābah.
In general, Islam promotes seeking treatment and taking precautions for preservation of life and health. This is a core objective regarding the dīn (religion). This is known as “Hifdh Al-Nafs” meaning “Preservation of the Self from all Harms.” – (See: Maqāsid Al-Shari’ah, Al-Ma’had Al-Orubīy, Page 25)[1]
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Allāh has sent down both the illness and the cure, and He has created a cure for every disease, so treat yourselves medically, but use nothing unlawful.” – (Abū Dāwūd 3874)[2]
There are a number of muslim scholars who have issued verdicts on the permissibility of vaccines with the general stipulations of permissible components and threat of disease, including the below mentioned:
- Mufti Taqī Usmānī of Pakistan
- Mufti Khālid Saifullah Al-Raḥmānī of India
- Mufti Shabbīr Aḥmad Patel of UK
- Mufti Raḍa Al-Ḥaq of South Africa
- Shaykh Kasim Ingar of Canada
- Muftī Ebrahim Desai of South Africa
- Shaykh Ashraf ‘Alī Thanwī of India
- Muftī Abdul Raḥīm Lachpuri of India
Only Allāh knows best.
[1] حفظ النفس وهو حفظها من جميع أسباب التلف والفساد – مقاصد الشرعية لعبد الله بن يوسف الجديع ص ٢٥
[2] إِنَّ اللَّهَ أَنْزَلَ الدَّاءَ وَالدَّوَاءَ وَجَعَلَ لِكُلِّ دَاءٍ دَوَاءً فَتَدَاوَوْا وَلاَ تَدَاوَوْا بِحَرَامٍ – أبو داؤد ٣٨٧٤
