Dar-ul-Ifta Pakistan, one of the county’s top seminaries, has declared vaccination against the novel coronavirus ‘legal’ and ‘permissible’ according to Islamic law. In a press conference on Monday, Prime Minister Imran Khan’s aide on religious harmony, Maulana Tahir Ashrafi, announced a religious decree, under which getting vaccinated against coronavirus was needed to prevent the ongoing pandemic. The fatwa, according to Ashrafi, was issued with the consent of ulema, muftis, and leading religious scholars of the Dar-ul-Ifta Pakistan. It asks the country’s philanthropists to use zakat, or alms, to help provide the coronavirus vaccine to the needy. According to the fatwa, it is every individual’s responsibility to administer vaccination against coronavirus since the Islamic law orders people to protect themselves and others from harm while refraining them from spreading rumours. Leading religious institutions in the Islamic world — including Dar al-Ifta al-Misriyyah and Saudi Arabia’s Majma al-Fiqh al-Islami (Muslim World League) — have declared administering coronavirus vaccine as an obligation under shariah so that people could ensure their safety, as well as of others. Maulana Ashrafi added that the fatwa was issued after a series of meetings chaired by the Imam-e-Kaaba, Sheikh Salih bin Abdullah al Humaid, at the International Islamic Fiqh Council in Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah, which operates under the the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Dar-ul-Ifta Pakistan also endorsed and supported Sheikh Al-Sudais’ fatwa regarding vaccination during fasting and that according to the Islamic law, it does not break the fast. Maulana Ashrafi said precautionary measures to protect oneself against the novel coronavirus should be fully observed and standard operating procedures for mosques should be heeded. In response to a question, the prime minister’s aide said there was no proposal under consideration to close mosques during or before the holy month of Ramzan. Pakistan’s mosques were open even when others around the world were closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, he said, cautioning the public, scholars, and elders against believing in rumours. In response to another question, he said the supply of vaccines for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims would be ensured as per the instructions of the Saudi Arabian government. Ashrafi also said the novel coronavirus had caused a global pandemic and anyone could contract it; therefore, it was not okay to make fun of the disease. “Imran Khan is in good health and prayers are being made all over the Islamic world for the speedy recovery and health of PM Imran Khan,” he added.