: Muslim Scholars Debate Immunization

It was a proclamation that would seem archaic in any other developing country, especially those trying to fight the ravages of AIDS. But leave it to one of Nigeria’s leading clerics to make it – immunizations are against Islam. To be fair, it’s not a concept that hasn’t been discussed before. The basic premise of the argument against immunization centers around the injection of filth, pus, and poisons into the body, claiming that it is unacceptable to Islamic rules of health and hygiene (never mind what actually defines filth and poisons in a clinical context). The Prophet said, “Allah has not put the cure of my Ummah in substances which have been made unlawful for them.” But the broader consensus has approved of immunization, citing a hadith that says, “Allah has not created an illness without creating a cure for it.” More convincing, perhaps, is the proven results of immunization in Muslim countries. Bangladesh is close to being polio-free thanks to an aggressive immunization program in place over the past few years.

Zahed Amanullah is associate editor of altmuslim.com.  He is based in London, England.