Preventative
Measures in Islam
By M. Omar Baig
Times of uncertainty can be difficult for everyone. This
past year was the epitome of uncertainty and continues to
be so. With the world still struggling to curtail the spread of
Covid-19, people have been struggling to look for answers
on how to navigate through their lives. This difficulty has
only been compounded by the overflow of information/
misinformation throughout the news and social media
platforms. From amongst the most contested issues
Muslims have been facing is the rollout of the Covid-19
vaccines.
We have all likely received multiple messages or had heated
discussions with mixed views on the Covid-19 vaccines.
With every passing day, a new “expert” or someone with
“insider information” has a new conspiracy theory regarding
the coronavirus and the multiple vaccines for it that
have been released. Claims range from the vaccine having
trackers to the purpose of it being to alter human DNA.
Furthermore, as the distribution and rollout of the vaccines
continue to expand, the disseminating of information has
only increased. This slew of information has put Muslims
in a conundrum as to whether they should consider taking
the vaccine or not and how to adopt precautionary measures.
However, as is the case with conspiracy theories, one
becomes so consumed in verifying or refuting them that
he/she tends to lose sight of the bigger picture, which in
this case is: what is the Islamic perspective of vaccines and
precautionary measures? Below we will discuss some of the
more common questions Muslims have about vaccines and
medication in general.
It should be noted that the purpose of this article is not to
attempt to verify or refute any conspiracy theories nor to
give medical advice. Rather, it is to look at the Islamic perspective
of medication and vaccinations in a general sense.
Is it necessary for me to take medication or seek treatment
in Islam?
From the outset, it should be understood that there are two
types of illnesses: fatal and non-fatal. In the cases of fatal
illnesses, the ruling for adopting treatment or taking medicine
would depend on the efficacy of the treatment:
1) Treatment whose efficacy is certain or near certain: it
would be necessary (wajib) to adopt such treatment.
2) Treatment whose efficacy is not certain but offers reasonable
hope (fifty percent or higher) that one will recover:
it is recommended to accept such a treatment although
it is not necessary.
3) Treatment whose efficacy offers less than fifty percent
chance of recovery: it would be permissible to try such
treatment although not encouraged.
In cases where the illness is not fatal, it would be recommended
to take medicine if its efficacy offers at least
reasonable hope. Otherwise, it would be only permissible
though not encouraged.
Note: It should be noted that the above rulings are default
rulings and do not take external factors into account. Factors
such as side effects, the contagiousness of the disease,
etc. could potentially change the ruling in certain circumstances.
Why not just trust Allah to cure me?
Akin to how a person works to earn his/her livelihood
or eats to satiate hunger, in Islam a person is expected to
adopt measures and means to achieve his/her goals. Islam
demands a balance between extreme fatalism and an
overreliance on worldly means. The Messenger of Allah a
not only adopted treatment himself, but also encouraged
believers to seek treatment. Consider the following hadith:
Usama bin Sharik g narrates that a group of bedouins
asked the Messenger of Allah a, “Is there any issue if we
choose not to take treatment or medication?” The Messenger
of Allah a replied, “O slaves of Allah! Take medication.
Except for old age, Allah has not placed any disease
(on earth) except that He has also put with it its cure” (Ibn
Maja).
What does Islam say regarding preventative measures?
When looking at the Sunna, we find that the Messenger of
12 March – April 2021 | AL-MADINAH