Is the case of this box comparable to what some current insurance companies do by collecting a specific amount from every person who wants to insure their goods or
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : Do we compare the case of this box to what some current insurance companies do by collecting a specific amount from every person who wants to insure, for example, their goods or their car or the like?
The Shaykh : We do not compare it to this.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : These insurance companies are undoubtedly forbidden, and they are a form of gambling (maysir) which Allah the Exalted associated with intoxicants, the worship of idols, and divination by arrows, as Allah the Mighty and Majestic said:[Al-Ma'idah 5:90] This is because this contract is one of excessive uncertainty (gharar) that revolves between profit and loss, and any contract in this state is gambling, for the person’s situation in it revolves between being a gainer or a loser.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : I give you an example: if I have a car and I give the insurance companies a sum of money every month, for example, let us say one hundred riyals every month.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : That means they will earn twelve hundred riyals in the year. An accident might happen to my car that consumes five thousand riyals to repair.
The questioner : Yes, that is possible.
The Shaykh : In that case, the company would be the loser, because more was taken from it than was given to it. Or the situation might be the opposite: the year, two years, or three years might pass and no accident happens to my car. In that case, I would be the loser, because a sum of money was taken from me without right.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This is exactly gambling, because it resembles a bet in which a person may be a gainer or a loser. It is also the same as what the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) prohibited, namely the sale involving excessive uncertainty (gharar), for this resembles it, if it is not it itself. Furthermore, these insurances actually harm society and undermine security, because the person who has insured his car accident may be led by this insurance to recklessness and indifference to collisions and accidents, because he sees that he is insured. Therefore, to preserve the security of society, these insurances or these companies should be prohibited. What I see in this is that it is obligatory for every believer to place his reliance on his Lord, Glorified and Exalted is He, and to stay away from forbidden transactions, because this money in our hands is a trust (‘ariyyah); either it is taken from us and destroyed in our lifetime, or we are taken from it and destroyed, and it remains for others. It is obligatory for the believer not to make money a goal, but to make it a means. Let him always remember the saying of Allah the Mighty and Majestic:[Al-Munafiqun 63:9] Let him always remember the saying of Allah the Mighty and Majestic: [Al-Mu'minun 23:99-100] meaning, “Perhaps I will spend my money.” Among what is included in this verse is “Perhaps I will spend my money which I left behind in deeds that bring me closer to Allah.” So Allah the Mighty and Majestic said: meaning, “No return,” or in the sense of “Truly” [Al-Mu'minun 23:100] So my advice to the Muslim is not to imitate the disbelievers who make money a goal rather than a means, and who make this world their abode, for the abode of the believer is the Hereafter, which is better, more excellent, and greater than this world by much, as Allah the Exalted said: [As-Sajdah 32:17] Let him know that if he fears Allah the Mighty and Majestic in his worship, his transactions, his morals, and his authority over those he is responsible for, such as his wives and others, let him know that if he fears Allah the Mighty and Majestic in that, then Allah the Exalted has guaranteed for him, and He does not break His promise, that He will provide for him from where he does not expect [At-Talaq 65:2-3] , [At-Talaq 65:4] .
So you, my believing brother, be patient, and provision will come to you if you strive for it through the lawful, non-prohibited means. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: .
And we ask Allah the Exalted to protect the Muslims from usury (riba) and gambling (maysir), and to make easy for them the good transactions which they eat with ease and comfort, without it being a burden upon them in this world or the Hereafter.
But someone might say: If I am afflicted with this matter, and I come to a country or am in a country where they force me into this insurance.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : What do I do? Do I, for example, stop using my car and rent one, or what do I do? I say in this that if you are forced into this insurance, there is no blame on you for paying what you are forced to pay. But if an accident happens to you, do not take from them more than the amount you paid. Do not take from them what is due for this accident if it is more than what you gave them. By doing this, you are free from liability, because you were wronged by this forbidden contract which you were forced into. By paying this money which you were forced to pay, if you are wronged, then you take the amount of your wronging at their choice, because they are the ones who will pay you this by virtue of the contract they forced you into. I see no harm in taking from them only the amount you paid for this accident that happened to you. And if the accident is less than what you paid, they will not give you more than the amount of the accident, and this is undoubtedly what you will take.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
His second question says.
The Shaykh : We do not compare it to this.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : These insurance companies are undoubtedly forbidden, and they are a form of gambling (maysir) which Allah the Exalted associated with intoxicants, the worship of idols, and divination by arrows, as Allah the Mighty and Majestic said:
O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allah], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءامَنُوا إِنَّمَا الْخَمْرُ وَالْمَيْسِرُ وَالْأَنْصَابُ وَالْأَزْلامُ رِجْسٌ مِنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ فَاجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَThe questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : I give you an example: if I have a car and I give the insurance companies a sum of money every month, for example, let us say one hundred riyals every month.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : That means they will earn twelve hundred riyals in the year. An accident might happen to my car that consumes five thousand riyals to repair.
The questioner : Yes, that is possible.
The Shaykh : In that case, the company would be the loser, because more was taken from it than was given to it. Or the situation might be the opposite: the year, two years, or three years might pass and no accident happens to my car. In that case, I would be the loser, because a sum of money was taken from me without right.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This is exactly gambling, because it resembles a bet in which a person may be a gainer or a loser. It is also the same as what the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) prohibited, namely the sale involving excessive uncertainty (gharar), for this resembles it, if it is not it itself. Furthermore, these insurances actually harm society and undermine security, because the person who has insured his car accident may be led by this insurance to recklessness and indifference to collisions and accidents, because he sees that he is insured. Therefore, to preserve the security of society, these insurances or these companies should be prohibited. What I see in this is that it is obligatory for every believer to place his reliance on his Lord, Glorified and Exalted is He, and to stay away from forbidden transactions, because this money in our hands is a trust (‘ariyyah); either it is taken from us and destroyed in our lifetime, or we are taken from it and destroyed, and it remains for others. It is obligatory for the believer not to make money a goal, but to make it a means. Let him always remember the saying of Allah the Mighty and Majestic:
O you who have believed, let not your wealth and your children divert you from remembrance of Allah. And whoever does that - then those are the losers.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءامَنُوا لا تُلْهِكُمْ أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَلا أَوْلادُكُمْ عَنْ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَمَنْ يَفْعَلْ ذَلِكَ فَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْخَاسِرُونَuntil, when death comes to one of them, he says, "My Lord, send me back (100) That I might do righteousness in that which I left behind."
حَتَّى إِذَا جَاءَ أَحَدَهُمُ الْمَوْتُ قَالَ رَبِّ ارْجِعُونِ لَعَلِّي أَعْمَلُ صَالِحاً فِيمَا تَرَكْتُNo!
كلاIt is only a word he is saying; and behind them is a barrier until the Day they are resurrected.
إِنَّهَا كَلِمَةٌ هُوَ قَائِلُهَا وَمِنْ وَرَائِهِمْ بَرْزَخٌ إِلَى يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَAnd no soul knows what has been hidden for them of comfort for eyes as reward for what they used to do.
فَلا تَعْلَمُ نَفْسٌ مَا أُخْفِيَ لَهُمْ مِنْ قُرَّةِ أَعْيُنٍ جَزَاءً بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَAnd whoever fears Allah - He will make for him a way out (3) And will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah - then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has already set for everything a [decreed] extent.
وَمَنْ يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَلْ لَهُ مَخْرَجاً وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لا يَحْتَسِبُ وَمَنْ يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بَالِغُ أَمْرِهِ قَدْ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدْراًAnd whoever fears Allah - He will make for him of his matter ease.
وَمَنْ يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَلْ لَهُ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ يُسْراًSo you, my believing brother, be patient, and provision will come to you if you strive for it through the lawful, non-prohibited means. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
It was revealed to me that no soul will die until it completes its provision and its term, so fear Allah and be good in your seeking.
إنه ألقي في روعي أنه لن تموت نفس حتى تستكمل رزقها وأجلها، فاتقوا الله وأجملوا في الطلبAnd we ask Allah the Exalted to protect the Muslims from usury (riba) and gambling (maysir), and to make easy for them the good transactions which they eat with ease and comfort, without it being a burden upon them in this world or the Hereafter.
But someone might say: If I am afflicted with this matter, and I come to a country or am in a country where they force me into this insurance.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : What do I do? Do I, for example, stop using my car and rent one, or what do I do? I say in this that if you are forced into this insurance, there is no blame on you for paying what you are forced to pay. But if an accident happens to you, do not take from them more than the amount you paid. Do not take from them what is due for this accident if it is more than what you gave them. By doing this, you are free from liability, because you were wronged by this forbidden contract which you were forced into. By paying this money which you were forced to pay, if you are wronged, then you take the amount of your wronging at their choice, because they are the ones who will pay you this by virtue of the contract they forced you into. I see no harm in taking from them only the amount you paid for this accident that happened to you. And if the accident is less than what you paid, they will not give you more than the amount of the accident, and this is undoubtedly what you will take.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
His second question says.