Fatwa of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) and its Contributions to the Halal and Holy Status of COVID-19 Vaccine in Indonesia

Abstract

This study attempted to examine the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine from the viewpoints of the fatwa of the MUI and maqasid al-shari’a. Generally, Indonesia has the largest Muslim population in the world. Therefore, the whole food, drink, and drug products are supposed to obtain halal legality. In relation to Covid-19, it is considered as a humanitarian disaster. Thus, scientists and Muslim scholars share the equal responsibility to seek solutions to the pandemic. Both complement each other by working together. Besides, all citizens are obliged to obey the health protocols and invited to be prepared for the vaccination. As for the vaccine of COVID-19, maqasid al-shari’a plays an important role to measure the aspects of maslahah al-mafsadat contained in it. The MUI, through its fatwa, stated that according to maqasid al-shari’a, Sinovac vaccine is halal and holy. This is viewed from either the urgency aspect of ‘doruriyyah’ to save human lives or the legality aspect of shari’a, which lies within the scope of maslahah mursalah. Due to no clear axiom in the legal source of Islam, it is then allowed for the sake of common interest and goodness. As regards with the standpoint of maqasid al-shari’a on the vaccination, there are three features relevant to this study, including cognition nature, multidimensionality, and purposefulness