Can One Receive the Covid-19 Vaccine While Fasting? – Guidance from the Caliph

For Muslims all over the world, Ramadan is the most blessed month of the year. As Muslims prepare to fast from dawn till dusk every day for a month, whilst striving to improve and strengthen their relationship with God Almighty, this year, the blessed month of Ramadan comes once again, in the midst of a global pandemic. Whereas last year, the world was still dealing with the initial onset of the novel Coronavirus, there has been much progress made based on where the world stands today. With the development of various vaccines, the world is slowly working towards regaining normality.

In light of this, as more and more people are getting in line to receive their injection of the vaccine, the question arises for Muslims who are fasting during the month of Ramadan, as to whether they can have the vaccine administered to them while fasting. The British Islamic Medical Association has expressed their view that one can get the Coronavirus vaccine even while they are fasting. This however, is not in line with the view of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. 

The Fifth Caliph and Worldwide Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (aba) gave the following guidance, published in the Al-Fazal publication:

‘Receiving any form of injection while fasting, whether intramuscular or intravenous, is prohibited. If an Ahmadi receives an appointment to have their Coronavirus vaccine during the month of Ramadan, they can avail of the exemption granted by Islam and abstain from fasting on the day they are due to receive the injection, and should make up for the fast after Ramadan.’

(Letter from His Holiness (aba) to the Editor of Al Fazal International April 13, 2021)