Dear Sirs,

I am writing to you regarding the recent correspondence I have received from you regarding the new vaccination requirement for employees.

I would like to submit my religious exemption from this requirement for your records, which will require an explanation, given that my religious circumstances are not conventional.

I am aware that, ordinarily, procuring a religious exemption is often dependent on a formal statement from an apposite authority, e.g. a recognised religious leader. However, that is not possible in my case, as I am what is known as a "Qur’an-only Muslim".

To the casual observer, this may appear to be a declaration that I follow the religion of Islam, however, this is not the case. The religion of Islam pivots around several key texts, of which the Qur’an is only one, whereas Qur’an-only Muslims such as I reject the legitimacy of these additional texts, as we believe that the Qur’an represents a complete revelation from God, and that further texts confuse and dilute this message, and do not derive from God.

There are tens of thousands of Qur’an-only Muslims all around the world, who, like me, follow many of the same tenets as followers of the Islamic religion, but as we believe the Qur’an is the ultimate authority of guidance in life, Qur’an-only Muslims do not look to "religious leaders" for guidance, we look to the Qur’an. There are no recognised "religious leaders" for Qur’an-only Muslims to consult, since being a Qur’an-only Muslim does not make one part of a religion as such, although it is a "religious-type" movement, insofar as Qur’an-only Muslims base their beliefs on a holy book and their actions upon honouring God.

As mentioned, the Qur'an-alone movement does not fit the standard definitions of a religion (i.e. one characterised by a clergy separated from the laity and supported by tithes). We do not blindly follow particular men among us, considering that we are all students of the same Book. Naturally, there are some among us who are more broadly respected by dint of their contribution to knowledge, and, having consulted with such people, I have been advised — and am personally in agreement with their view — that while vaccinations are nowhere referenced in the Qur'an (or in any scripture for that matter), guidance on this subject may be derived from the following passages:

1. It is satan who provokes men to change the fundamental creation of God. Here I quote the Qur’an, where satan is speaking initially:
   
   119 And: “I will lead them astray”; and: “I will arouse desires in them”; and: “I will command them and they will slit the ears of cattle”; and: “I will command them and they will change the creation of God.” And whoso takes the satan for ally instead of God, he has suffered clear loss.
   120 He promises them, and arouses desires in them; and the satan promises them only delusion.
   122 Those: their shelter is Gehenna; and they will find therefrom no place of refuge.
   (Surah 4:119-122)

• It is God who heals. Here we have Abraham, father of all three major monotheistic religions, speaking:
  
  77 “And they are an enemy to me save the Lord of All Creation
  78 “Who created me; and He guides me,
  79 “And it is He who feeds me and gives me drink,
  80 “And when I am sick, He heals me,
  81 “And who will give me death, then give me life,
  82 “And who I hope will forgive me my offences on the Day of Judgment.”
  (Surah 26:77-82)

• God provides healing materials in his creation. Here honey is mentioned specifically, which is a natural antibiotic.
  
  68 And thy Lord instructed the bee: “Take thou houses of the mountains, and of the trees, and of what they construct.
  69 “Then eat thou of every fruit, and follow thou the ways of thy Lord gently.” There comes out of their bellies a drink differing in its hues wherein is healing for men. In that is a proof for people who reflect.
  (Surah 16:68-69)
  
  On the basis of the above, one can form the following conclusions:
  
  a. Any change of the creation (i.e. interfering with the fundamentals) is not sanctioned
  b. Any healing is attributed to God
  c. We may seek healing in the creation (but not by interfering with it)

Therefore, I cannot honour my beliefs, nor the wishes of God as laid out in the Qur’an, by participating in vaccination, which represents an invasive interference with God's creation of the human body and its natural mechanisms and defences. 

Thank you for your time, and I look forward to your acknowledgement of my religious exemption from vaccination at your earliest possible convenience.

Yours sincerely,

[Name]

----------

To learn more about what being a Qur'an-only Muslim entails, and to download an English translation of the Qur'an for free, please see the work of Sam Gerrans at quranite.com