Indian Islamic body okays Covid vaccine with pork gelatin

Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH), a prominent Muslim body in India has said that the coronavirus vaccines are permissible for Muslims even if they contain pork gelatin. JIH vice president Muhammad Salim Engineer while talking to ETV Bharat said that the if the vaccine is verified by medical authorities then it should be considered as medicine only. Pork is considered Haram or non-permissible for consumption in Islam.

New Delhi: Prominent Muslim body in India - Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH), on Saturday, has ruled that coronavirus vaccines are permissible for Muslims even if they contain pork gelatin as it is being considered as medicine and not food.

Speaking to ETV Bharat, JIH vice president Muhammad Salim Engineer, said, "If a medicine or vaccine is verified by medical authorities then it should be considered as medicine only and one should not involve in fatwas."

Notably, Sunni Muslim scholars from Mumbai's Raza Academy had said that Chinese vaccine containing pork gelatin is "haram" or forbidden for Muslims.

Saeed Noorie, secretary general of Raza Academy in a video statement urged the Indian government to not place an order for the Chinese vaccine which contains pork gelatin.

"If a medicine has any alternate of pork gelatine, then nobody will have any problem but if there is no other alternative option and the disease can only be treated from that substance or chemical then there should be no problem in taking it," he added.

Giving an example, Muhammad Salim Engineer, further explained that many cough syrups have alcohol substance mixed in it and people take it for their treatment. The same happens with many other medicines too. So, if the medicine is verified by medically competent authorities so one should not take it in any other sense.

Prominent Sunni cleric and AIMPLB member Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahali has also directed Muslims to take the vaccine and not involve themselves with rumours.

Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates' highest Islamic authority, the UAE Fatwa Council chairman Sheikh Abdallah bin Bayyah said that the coronavirus vaccines would not be subject to Islam's restrictions on pork because of the higher need to "protect the human body".

Pork-derived gelatin in vaccines is used by pharmaceutical companies as a stabilizer to ensure that they remain safe and effective during storage and transport.