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Last Update: 04:49 GMT, Thursday, Dec. 03, 2009 |
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Living Shari`ah > Fatwa Bank
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Name of Questioner
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Concerned Muslim
- Ireland |
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Title
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Pig Trypsin Used in Making Polio Vaccine
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Question
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You will be aware that WHO has been, for about a decade, carrying out a campaign to exterminate polio so that it may disappear completely from the globe. This will obviously save the world a large number of cases of disability and death and keep this terrible disease away from mankind forever, Allah willing.
The polio vaccine is prepared from the polio virus, which is grown on tissue culture. In order to have a successful culture, the cells must be separated from one another. This separation is accomplished by using an enzyme called trypsin, which is taken from pigs. Trypsin is added in very tiny or almost negligible amounts, for enzymes function at extremely low concentration. The separated cells are washed to remove all traces of trypsin. Then the polio viruses are planted on the cells to grow. The cultured viruses are harvested and inactivated, then added to a solution, about which there is no question of being halal. Only two or three drops of vaccine are administered orally to each child.
Some of our Muslim brothers in several regions in the world, particularly in East Asia, out of piety, give the fatwa that it is impermissible to give this vaccine to Muslim children because of the use of trypsin that is prepared from pigs.
Our view on the subject is as follows:
Allah prohibits eating pork, and trypsin has nothing to do with pork (flesh of swine).
The very tiny amount of trypsin—assuming it is unlawful—is too small to have any effect, according to the rule “if water exceeds the amount of two qullas (a measure) it carries no filth” while filth exists in it.
The added trypsin is washed so well that no traces of it are left behind—even if we regarded it unlawful because of its impurity.
Necessities permit unlawful things even if the three previous pleas are not sufficient.
Would you please show the legal ruling in light of the above-mentioned criteria. Please keep in mind that if some Muslims refuse to immunize their children with this vaccine, only Muslim children will be at risk. Such refusal also gives a bad impression of Muslims because it hinders the eradication of the disease from all over the world forever, Allah willing, for this eradication will be incomplete as long as there remains even a single child carrying the polio virus.
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Date |
15/May/2005 |
| Name of Counsellor |
European Council for Fatwa and Research |
| Topic | Medicine |
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In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
Dear questioner, we would like to thank you for the great confidence you place in us, and we implore Allah Almighty to help us serve His cause and render our work for His Sake.
In the first place, we would like to stress that it is a duty upon Muslims to exert their utmost efforts to ward off harm of all its kinds. Surely, part of removing harm is to use vaccines to boost immunity against polio as well as other fatal diseases.
Responding to the question, the European Council for Fatwa and Research, states the following:
The Council investigated the topic mentioned above and after probing into the objectives of the Shari`ah and its outcomes, the juristic rules and the jurists’ sayings regarding what may be excused, decided the following:
First, this oral vaccine has been proved medically useful as it leads to immunizing children and protecting them against polio, Allah Almighty willing.
Moreover, there is no alternative to it yet. Therefore, its use therapeutically and preventively is permissible, for the prevention of its use would lead to major evil and destruction. The fields of fiqh are widely tolerant regarding these impurities— assuming that this liquid [Trypsin] is impure—particularly when we know that this impurity is removed through cell proliferation and washing.
Besides, this case belongs to the area of necessities or needs that are treated as necessities, and it is well known that one of the most important objectives of the Shari`ah is to bring about interests and benefits and to ward off evil and harm.
Second, the Council exhorts the imams of Muslims and those in charge of their centers not to be too strict and literal in these matters of ijtihad that would realize important benefits to Muslim children, since these matters do not conflict with the definitive texts. You can also read:
Islamic View on Vaccinations
Preventing Child Vaccinations: Permissible?
If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to write back!
May Allah guide you to the straight path, and guide you to that which pleases Him, Amen.
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Allah Almighty knows best. |
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