Egypt’s Dar al-Ifta Authorizes Using Zakat for Purchasing COVID-19 Vaccines

Dar al-Ifta in Cairo, Egypt (file photo: Reuters)
Dar al-Ifta in Cairo, Egypt (file photo: Reuters)
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Egypt’s Dar al-Ifta Authorizes Using Zakat for Purchasing COVID-19 Vaccines

Dar al-Ifta in Cairo, Egypt (file photo: Reuters)
Dar al-Ifta in Cairo, Egypt (file photo: Reuters)

Egypt’s Dar al-Ifta announced it is permissible to use the Zakat funds to buy the coronavirus vaccine in order to ensure “preservation of the self,” which is one of the higher overall objectives of Islamic law.

Dar al-Ifta said that establishing a health system comes within this goal, which also aims to maintain people's health and provide vaccines against COVID-19.

The fatwa also authorized the use of the money to treat patients, according to the statement.

The development of the virus and its effects necessitate efforts and funds to ensure a strong health system, with all its mechanisms, tools, devices, treatment, and means of protection, according to Dar al-Ifta.

The statement also explained that one of the most important aspects of protecting the livelihood of individuals and communities is the elimination of deadly diseases and pandemics.

The Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population confirmed 1,022 new coronavirus cases and 59 virus-related deaths, while there were 677 recovered cases.

Egypt has reported a total of 153,741 cases, 121,072 recoveries and 8,421 deaths.

Meanwhile, the government denied reports claiming the coronavirus vaccine will be distributed according to the social class of citizens, confirming that the map circulating on media regarding the distribution of the vaccine is “untrue.”

The cabinet asserted that the state will provide the vaccine to all citizens without discrimination, pointing out that the process of distributing the vaccine is not based on social hierarchy.

It asserted that priority will be given to the most vulnerable groups, such as medical staff, people with chronic diseases, and the elderly.



Weaponization of Food in Gaza Constitutes War Crime, UN Rights Office Says

A tent camp for displaced Palestinians stretches among the ruins of buildings destroyed by Israeli bombardments in west of Gaza City, Saturday, June 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)
A tent camp for displaced Palestinians stretches among the ruins of buildings destroyed by Israeli bombardments in west of Gaza City, Saturday, June 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)
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Weaponization of Food in Gaza Constitutes War Crime, UN Rights Office Says

A tent camp for displaced Palestinians stretches among the ruins of buildings destroyed by Israeli bombardments in west of Gaza City, Saturday, June 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)
A tent camp for displaced Palestinians stretches among the ruins of buildings destroyed by Israeli bombardments in west of Gaza City, Saturday, June 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

The UN human rights office said on Tuesday that the "weaponization" of food for civilians in Gaza constitutes a war crime, in its strongest remarks yet on a new model of aid distribution run by an Israeli-backed organization.

Over 410 people have been killed by gunshots or shells fired by the Israeli military while trying to reach distribution sites of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation since it began work in late May, UN human rights spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan told reporters at a Geneva press briefing.

The death toll has been independently verified by his office, he added.

"Desperate, hungry people in Gaza continue to face the inhumane choice of either starving to death or risk being killed while trying to get food," he said, describing the system as "Israel's militarized humanitarian assistance mechanism".

"The weaponization of food for civilians, in addition to restricting or preventing their access to life-sustaining services, constitutes a war crime and, under certain circumstances, may constitute elements of other crimes under international law."

Asked whether Israel was guilty of that war crime, he said: "The legal qualification needs to be made by a court of law."

Israel rejects war crimes charges in Gaza and blames Hamas fighters for harm to civilians for operating among them, which the fighters deny.