Forging a COVID-19 vaccination certificate

A question about forging a COVID-19 vaccination certificate, in which Jordan's General Iftaa Department answered that forging a vaccination certificate or COVID-19 test is forbidden lying, cheating and forgery; whoever issues the forged certificate shares in the sin, and the prohibition is greater if a bribe is paid to obtain it. ¹

The questioner asked about forging a certificate showing that one has received a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. ¹

The Department answered that a Muslim is bound to truthfulness in word and deed whatever the circumstances, citing Surat al-Tawba 9:119, and that truthfulness includes presenting genuine medical tests and certificates that honestly show one's state of health, among them vaccination certificates and tests for the virus. ¹ It said that producing a forged certificate showing that the holder has been vaccinated, or a forged test showing that he is not infected, is lying, cheating and forgery, which God has forbidden, citing a hadith narrated by al-Bukhari whose meaning is that false testimony is among the gravest of major sins. ¹ It added that forgery in such medical matters has serious consequences for society and can undo much of the work of the responsible authorities; whoever issues the forged certificate aids and shares in the sin, and the prohibition is greater if a bribe is involved, citing Surat al-Ma'ida 5:2. ¹ It concluded that everyone must be truthful in presenting medical certificates and tests and avoid forgery, lying and trickery, especially since the safety of the whole society is at stake. ¹

Jordan's General Iftaa Department published this fatwa on aliftaa.jo as no. 3652, dated 24 October 2021. ¹ The museum records this text as a historical document attributed to the body or scholar that issued it; it issues no ruling of its own.