Q.1. Many insurance policies are available on the market, such as life, medical and professional quality insurance. What is the Islamic view on these?
Q.2. A person working for a private school discovers that it is part of the board’s policy to pass students unfairly so that the school could have a better image. Can he continue to work for it?
Nasir
A.1. Scholars differ in their view on insurance, with some saying that it is forbidden and others pronouncing it as permissible. Therefore, it is necessary to examine their views very carefully. The late Shaikh Mustafa Al-Zarqa, who was one of the top Islamic scholars of the 20th century, wrote a book on insurance, looking at all aspects of it. He concluded that all insurance is permissible, as it is a form of cooperation among a group of people to reduce the effects of an adversity that befalls any member of that group. He discusses the objections raised against insurance in a highly scholarly way, and rebuts all arguments. I find his verdict very convincing, particularly because he was very thorough in his work, able to analyse problems of modern life in the light of Islamic guidance.
A.2. If that person’s work does not have any direct relevance to the cheating involved, he may continue working in that school. Suppose that he runs the school cafeteria, he would not be involved in marking students. On the other hand, if his work requires him to be directly involved in the cheating, then he must not be party to it. He should leave if that is the only way to keep himself in the clear. If he leaves in order not to disobey God, then God will, if He so pleases, provide him with a better job.
