The Ruling on Paying Mandatory Insurance in Western Countries

The questioner:
Regarding the Shaykh’s position on insurance, you say it is forbidden, but in America it is compulsory to insure your car; in the West, insurance is a compulsory process.

The Shaykh:
Compulsory, you pay the compulsory amount, but when you claim, you only take what you paid. Your lawful portion is not to pay only, nor to take an excess over it. Yes.

The questioner:
But you cannot take your full right; you pay insurance annually, but perhaps you benefit from the insurance and perhaps you do not.

The Shaykh:
I say: if you do not benefit, you take what you paid; that is what is permissible for you, and anything more is not permissible for you. Yes. So if they force you to insure the car, for example, they do not sell you the car unless you pay for insurance, pay the insurance, but do not claim it; do not claim it. If the car breaks down, you repair it from your own money. And if you do claim, take only what you paid. Yes.