House Insurance

House Insurance

House Insurance

Question

In the UK, house insurance for freehold property owners is not mandatory. However, if a house is not insured and is damaged through a fire or arson attack or accident, the owner can become homeless because property prices are very high. Islamophobia is on the rise in the UK and attacks against Muslims are also on the rise. Unemployment levels are also high. In light of this, is it permissible to insure a house? It should be noted that the ratio between earnings and property prices is highly disproportionate, compared to previous times. Currently, it would take an average person fifteen to twenty years minimum to earn and purchase a house.

بسم الله الرحمن الرحیم

Answer

The default position in relation to house insurance is impermissibility due to garar (uncertainty) and qimār (gambling) therein.

However, in light of deteriorating conditions in the UK, a person is excused if he undertakes buildings insurance based on need. If there is a not-for-profit firm that provides this service, this should be used. In reaching this conclusion, consideration has been given to rising attacks on Muslims, the importance of preserving the wealth of Muslims, the booming property prices and the consequences and harms of becoming homeless.

Note: We are not aware of any Islamic property insurance scheme in the UK based on takāful. If a suitable and viable Islamic compliant model is developed, it will be necessary to avoid the conventional model. It is necessary on Muslims to make every effort to develop Shariah compliant schemes.

قال ابن أمير حاج في التقرير والتحبير (٣/٢٦٤) وابن نجيم في الأشباه والنظائر (ص ٧٣): الضرورات تبيح المحظورات. وقال ابن نجيم: ما أبيح للضرورة يقدر بقدرها، انتهى. وقال المفتي محمود حسن الجنجوهي في فتاويه (٢٤/٤٥٤) وأقره شيخنا المفتي أحمد الخانفوري في فتاويه (٣/٣٧٢): سوال: موجودہ زمانہ میں بیمہ کرانا اپنا یا دوکان اور موٹر وغیرہ کا کیسا ہے؟ الجواب : بیمہ میں سود بھی ہے اور جوا بھی، یہ دونوں چیزیں شرعا ممنوع ہیں، لیکن اگر کوئی شخص ایسے مقام پر اور ایسے ماحول میں ہو کہ بغیر بیمہ کرائے جان ومال کی حفاظت ہی نہ ہوسکتی ہو یا قانونی مجبوری ہو تو بیمہ کرانا درست ہے۔

Allah knows best

Yusuf Shabbir

18 Muḥarram 1441 / 18 September 2019

Approved by: Mufti Shabbir Ahmad and Mufti Muhammad Tahir