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.