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.



Heavy Israeli Strikes Shake Beirut’s Southern Suburbs

Flames rise after an Israeli airstrike in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
Flames rise after an Israeli airstrike in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
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Heavy Israeli Strikes Shake Beirut’s Southern Suburbs

Flames rise after an Israeli airstrike in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
Flames rise after an Israeli airstrike in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Strong explosions in Beirut's southern suburbs began near midnight and continued into Sunday after Israel's military urged residents to evacuate areas in Dahiyeh.

Photos and video showed the blasts illuminating the southern suburbs, and sparking flashes of red and white visible from several kilometers away. They followed a day of sporadic strikes and the nearly continuous buzz of reconnaissance drones.

Israel's military confirmed it was striking targets near Beirut and said about 30 projectiles had crossed

from Lebanon into Israeli territory, with some intercepted.

The strikes reportedly targeted a building near a road leading to Rafik Hariri International Airport, and another building formerly used by the Hezbollah-run broadcaster Al-Manar. Social media reports claimed that one of the strikes hit an oxygen tank storage facility, but this was later denied by the owner of the company Khaled Kaddouha.

Shortly thereafter, Hezbollah claimed in a statement that it successfully targeted a group of Israeli soldiers near the Manara settlement in northern Israel “with a large rocket salvo, hitting them accurately.”

Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said on Saturday that Israel had killed 440 Hezbollah fighters in its ground operations in southern Lebanon and destroyed 2,000 Hezbollah targets. Hezbollah has not released death tolls.

Israel says it stepped up its assault on Hezbollah to enable the safe return of tens of thousands of citizens to homes in northern Israel, bombarded by the group since last Oct. 8.

Israeli authorities said on Saturday that nine Israeli soldiers had been killed in southern Lebanon so far.