Halal Immunization Concept Through Vaccination for Infants and Children Based on Maqasid Shariah Framework

Abstract

The Malaysian government’s immunization program has been implemented since the 1950s. Under this program, the Ministry of Health Malaysia provides several types of vaccines to children and infants to prevent diseases like diphtheria, measles, tuberculosis, and polio. However, in Malaysia, there has been a significant increase of the anti-vaccine groups. The most common reasons given are doubts of the halal status and its side effect. In view of such issue, this research is carried out to examine the concept of immunization through vaccination from Shariah perspective. The principle of Maqasid Shariah and its relation to immunization will be the focus of this study. With regards to this, evidences from the holy Quran and Sunnah and views of classical and contemporary scholars will be critically analyzed. This research adopted qualitative method due to the large involvement of resources obtained from the library research and authoritative websites. The findings from the research show that immunization program through vaccinations for infants and children are in line with Islamic teachings based on the Maqasid Shariah principle. It is hoped that the findings can be a reference for both public and policy makers in being more observant when handling Shariah-related issues with the help of traditional and contemporary scholars.