The ruling on treating disease through vaccination before the disease occurs

Q: What is the ruling on treating disease before it occurs, such as vaccination?


A: There is no harm in seeking treatment if one fears the occurrence of a disease due to the presence of an epidemic or other causes that might lead to the disease. Therefore, there is no harm in taking medicine to ward off the calamity one fears; this is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in the authentic hadith: This falls under the category of warding off calamity before it happens. Similarly, if one fears a disease and gets vaccinated against an epidemic present in the country or anywhere else, there is no harm in doing so as a form of defense. Just as an existing disease is treated with medicine, the disease one fears is treated with medicine. However, it is not permissible to hang amulets or veils against disease, jinn, or the evil eye, due to the prohibition of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding that. He (peace and blessings be upon him) clarified that this is minor shirk, so it is obligatory to be cautious of it.