Translated Article (Original can be accessed from here)
Question:
I want to buy a car, and I am required to insure it because Al-Ta’mīn (التأمين) (insurance) is mandatory (Ijbārī - إجباري) in my country. There is a Takaful insurance (Al-Ta’mīn At-Takāfulī - التأمين التكافلي) company I want to deal with. However, my friend told me that dealing with this company is not permissible (Ghayr Jā’iz - غير جائز) because At-Takāful (التكافل) (mutual insurance) requires a Kafīl (كفيل) (guarantor) other than the Sharikah Ta’mīn (شركة التأمين) (insurance company) who pays on my behalf, rather than me paying myself.
I explained to him that I am compelled (Muḍṭarr - مضطر) to buy a car for the following reasons:
- Wasā’il An-Naql Al-‘Ūmūmīyah (وسائل النقل العمومية) (Public transportation) is mixed (Mukhtaliṭah - مختلطة), extremely crowded (Muktaziẓah - مكتظة), and rarely has available seating. It also involves many inappropriate behaviors, such as At-Tabarruj (التبرج) (immodesty), Al-Iḥtikāk (الاحتكاك) (physical contact between men and women), As-Sariqah (السرقة) (theft), and Rada’at Al-Jawdah (رداءة الجودة) (poor service quality).
- Wasā’il An-Naql Al-Khāṣṣah (وسائل النقل الخاصة) (Private transportation), such as Sayyārat Ajrah (سيّارة الأجرة) (taxis), is very expensive (Bāhithat Ath-Thaman - باهظة الثمن). They also play Al-Mūsīqā (الموسيقى) (music), and demand for them is high, so one may wait more than half an hour and still struggle to find an available taxi, leading to significant time loss.
My friend responded that these reasons do not constitute a Ḍarūrah (ضرورة) (necessity) because, in his view, necessities are limited to Al-Ma’kul (المأكول) (food) and Al-Mashrub (المشروب) (drink). He cited the verse:
"Faman iḍṭurra fī makhmaṣatin ghayra mutajānin li-ithmin fa-inna Allāha Ghafūrun Raḥīm."
"But whoever is forced by severe hunger with no inclination to sin – then indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful." (Surah Al-Mā’idah: 3)
- Is Al-Ta’mīn At-Takāfulī (التأمين التكافلي) (Takaful insurance) impermissible in this case?
- Do my reasons justify purchasing a car?
May Allah bless you.
Answer:
Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family, and his companions.
Types of Insurance (Al-Ta’mīn - التأمين) in Islam
Insurance is divided into two types:
- Al-Ta’mīn At-Takāfulī (التأمين التكافلي) (Takaful (Cooperative) Insurance) – Permissible (Jā’iz - جائز).
- Al-Ta’mīn At-Tijārī (التأمين التجاري) (Commercial Insurance) – Prohibited (Muḥarram - محرم).
We have previously explained the differences (Al-Furūq - الفروق) between them in many Fatāwā (فتاوى) (Islamic legal rulings), especially in Fatwa No. 127788 and Fatwa No. 7394.
The Ruling on Your Situation
- If the Lawa’iḥ (لوائح) (regulations) of the Sharikah Ta’mīn (شركة التأمين) (insurance company) comply with the principles of Al-Ta’mīn At-Takāfulī (التأمين التكافلي) (Takaful insurance) as outlined in the referenced Fatāwā (فتاوى), then it is permissible (Jā’iz - جائز) to engage with them.
- If the company operates Tijārīyan (تجارياً) (commercially) (which is the case with most insurance companies), then it is not permissible (Ghayr Jā’iz - غير جائز) to choose it voluntarily.
As for your friend’s statement that At-Takāful (التكافل) (mutual insurance) requires a Kafīl (كفيل) (guarantor) other than the insurance company, who pays on your behalf instead of you, this is unclear (Lam Yataḍaḥ Al-Murād - لم يتضح المراد).
However, if mandatory insurance (At-Ta’mīn Al-Ijbārī - التأمين الإجباري) (such as car insurance) has no permissible alternative, then it is allowed due to compulsion (Ikrāh - إكراه), and the sin is upon the entity enforcing it (Al-Mujbir - المجبر).
In such a case, you should limit yourself to At-Ta’mīn Ḍidda Al-Ghayr (التأمين ضد الغير) (third-party liability insurance) and avoid At-Ta’mīn Ash-Shāmil (التأمين الشامل) (comprehensive insurance) whenever possible.
And Allah knows best.