ABU DHABI — The UAE Fatwa Council, under the chairmanship of Shaykh Abdallah Bin Bayyah, said on Thursday that taking the COVID-19 vaccine is permissible in Islam and does not invalidate fasting.

This came as the Council had a virtual discussion over the Fiqh of fasting, including the guidelines, rules, and regulations derived from the rulings laid down in the Holy Qur'an and the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)), the Sunnah.

Within this context, the council reviewed the religious rulings in regard to the preventive and precautionary measures in place to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, primarily those related to the arrangements of Iftar meals and Ramadan tents as well as Al-Taraweeh prayers.

A detailed official statement will be issued by the council in this regard during the next media briefing on COVID-19. — WAM