In the name of Allah,
The Entirely Merciful, The Especially Merciful
Praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, may the blessings and peace be upon our master Muhammad, the seal of Prophets, on his family and all his companions.
Resolution No. 240 (2/25)
Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on Rulings of Worship, Family, and Crimes
The Council of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, holding its 25th session in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on 29 Rajab – 3 Shaaban 1444H (20-23 February 2023),
Having examined the research papers submitted to the Academy concerning the Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on the Rulings of Worship, Family, and Crimes,
Having reviewed the recommendations of the Academy’s Medical Fiqh Symposium concerning the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19): Medical Treatments and Sharia Rulings, held via videoconferencing on 23 Shaaban 1441H (16 April 2020)
Having reviewed the recommendations of the Academy’s Medical Fiqh Symposium, concerning Sharia Rulings on Covid-19 Vaccines, their Purchase, and Financing their Distribution with Zakat Funds, held via videoconferencing on 10 Rajab 1442H (22 February 2021),
Having listened to the discussions of the Academy’s members and experts,
Resolves
First: A pandemic refers to an epidemic that has spread widely in large areas of neighboring countries, affecting a large number of people, and the novel coronavirus refers to the coronavirus that causes inflammation in the respiratory system, also known as Covid-19.
Second: The novel coronavirus (Covid-19) is a pandemic because it has spread worldwide; therefore, the Sharia rulings concerning pandemics and epidemics in Islamic jurisprudence apply.
Third: The Sharia rulings concerning pandemics in general, and the Covid-19 pandemic in particular, include the following:
- The ruler (government) should take measures to mitigate the spread of the pandemic, including the suspension of the Friday and daily congregational prayers in Mosques, Hajj and Umrah, imposition of curfews, closure of schools, and other measures for the preservation of lives.
- It is permissible to use Zakat funds to purchase vaccines, medicines, or medical equipment for the poor, the needy, and whose hearts need to be reconciled as these are included in the eight beneficiaries of Zakat. The funding of vaccines, medicines, and treatments can also be financed from other sources, including charities, donations, awqaaf, and other various forms of giving.
- It is permissible, if necessary, for Muslims to expedite the payment of Zakat and to pay it during the pandemic to the patient who is unable to pay the cost of medical treatment, as well as to workers, civil servants, and others who have lost their jobs due to the pandemic if they do not have enough to live on.
- A Muslim who has died from coronavirus must be washed, wrapped, given a funeral, prayed over, and buried while taking the precautionary sanitary measures. Should this become unattainable, tayammum (dry ablution) may be performed on the corpse, provided it is feasible.
- It is not permissible to cremate a corpse that has died from the coronavirus but should be buried while taking precautionary sanitary measures.
- The funeral and the prayer over the deceased with the coronavirus depend on circumstances in a way that does not affect the healthy.
- The deliberate spread of the coronavirus to healthy people is a punishable crime commensurate with the severity of the crime committed.
The Council of the Academy commends the fatwas and resolutions issued by the respected Sharia boards and Fiqh councils in a number of OIC Member States, which have contributed to mitigating the pandemic.
Indeed, Allah is All-Knowing.
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Secretary‑General of the Academy Visits the Consulate General of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan His Excellency Professor Dr. Qutb Mustafa Sano, Secretary‑General of the Academy, paid an official visit on 29 Sha‘ban 1447 AH, corresponding to 17 February 2026, to the Consulate General of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in Jeddah. His Excellency and his accompanying delegation were received by His Excellency Ambassador Mohammed Salah Sobhi Hameed, Consul General and Permanent Representative of Jordan to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, who welcomed him warmly and expressed his pleasure at the visit. He praised the distinguished intellectual efforts undertaken by the Academy under His Excellency’s leadership in addressing numerous religious and intellectual issues of concern to the Islamic world, affirming his personal honor in meeting His Excellency again and Jordan’s keenness to strengthen channels of communication and cooperation with the Academy, especially in areas of mutual interest. For his part, His Excellency expressed his deep gratitude and great appreciation to the Ambassador for the warm reception and generous hospitality. He commended the tremendous support, gracious care, and continuous attention the Academy has received from the leadership and people of Jordan since its establishment. He also conveyed his sincere appreciation for the Ambassador’s recent visit to the Academy, affirming the Academy’s full readiness to do everything that would enhance partnership, cooperation, coordination, and communication between the Academy and Jordanian religious and academic institutions. His Excellency was accompanied by Mr. Mohammed Al‑Mundhir Rida Al‑Shawk, Director of the Office and Protocol; Mr. Mohammed Waleed Al‑Idrisi, Director of Media and Public Relations; Ms. Sarah Amjad Badawi, Director of the Department of Family, Women, Children, and the Elderly; and Mr. Amjad Ibrahim Al‑Mansi, Head of the Protocol Section.
