Asserting that Islam prioritizes human life, 15 leading Islamic scholars and faculty members have appealed to the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) community and the general public to get vaccinated to prevent the spread of the Covid 19 pandemic which had wreaked in the campus.

At least 35-40 serving and retired AMU faculty members and other staff have reportedly died from coronavirus in the past few weeks.

 “Islam prioritizes human life, and there is no debate on this. Protection from a virus is a part of that guidance and vaccines are modern tools to protect people from disease and also prevent them from becoming carriers of the disease within their communities and countries. By that logic, it is our duty to get vaccinated,” said the scholars.

The public appeal was signed among others by Professors Zafrul Islam, Zainus Sajideen,  Amin Miyan, Ali Mohammad Naqvi, A R Kidwai, Saud Alam Qasmi, Touqueer Alam Falahi and Mohd Saleem, TNA reported.

They also urged the AMU community and the general masses to act with greater responsibility and concern.

“In the past 20 days, we have lost almost 16 members of our faculty, eminent teachers, including the chairman of the medicine department, dean of law faculty and many others. As we come to terms with this loss, there is a sense of fear and restlessness,” Proctor Professor Mohammad Waseem Ali was quoted as saying.