<![CDATA[This study aims to explore the perspectives of Yogyakarta scholars on vaccines produced using MDCK (Madin-Darby Canine Kidney) cells derived from dog kidneys. MDCK raises concerns among Muslims regarding its ḥalāl status, as dogs are considered impure (najis) in Islamic law. Through in-depth interviews with five key informants from MUI, LPH, LBM PWNU, and UIN Sunan Kalijaga, this study examines their views based on the al-Qur’ān, Ḥādīṡ, and juristic opinions. The findings reveal diverse positions. One informant emphasizes regulatory barriers rooted in the Shafi'i school, which requires istiḥālah (perfect transformation) and rejects foreign ḥalāl certificates. Other informants invoke talfīq (eclecticism) by shifting to the Maliki or Hanafi schools, which consider dogs not impure. They also highlight the concept of mujāwir (process accompaniments), arguing that MDCK cells are effectively removed through purification, and that even in the Shafi'i school, impurity invisible to the naked eye is forgivable (ma‘fuwwun ‘anhu). Clinical analogies, such as Enoxaparin, further support conditional permissibility. The majority accept MDCK-based vaccines when no ḥalāl alternatives exist, purification ensures no cellular traces remain, and public health necessity (ḍarūrah) justifies their use under ḥifẓ an-nafs (preservation of life). This study has limitations, namely that it only covers scholars from Yogyakarta and focuses only on MDCK cells. Further research is needed for other regions and for other impure (najis) materials besides MDCK.]]>
