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Seven
Misconceptions About Insurance and Takaful
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| For more information
on Takaful Taawuni or Takaful schemes worldwide,
please contact us at Bank Al Jazira 9662-651-8070, ex 2108
ask for Omar
Fisher. |
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What you
should know... |
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Misconception
no 1 |
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Risk Protection (insurance)
is against Tawakkul - total dependence upon Allah (swt). |
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No human actions change the Will of Allah (swt)
for our destiny. Whether a person has insurance/Takaful or not has no effect
on future events. However, we are instructed to take precautions and then
fully trust and depend upon Almighty Allah (swt): in Hadith narrated by
Anas bin Malik when an Arab Bedouin asked Prophet Muhmmad (PBUH), "Shall
I leave my camel untied and seek Allah's protection on it, or should I tie
it?" The Holy Prophet replied, "Tie your camel and then depend upon Allah
(swt)." {as quoted by Sunan Al Tarmizi, 1981,}. |
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Misconception No. 2: |
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All Risk Protection (insurance)
is Haram-prohibited |
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Fiqh Council of World Muslim League
(1398/1978) resolution and Fiqh Council of Organization of Islamic Conference
(1405/1985) in Jeddah resolved that, "..conventional insurance as presently
practiced is Haram." And that, "..cooperative insurance (Takaful) is permissible
and fully consistent with Shariah principles." Hence, conventional insurance
is prohibited for Muslims because it contains elements of Riba, Al Maisir,
and Al Gharar. By contrast, Takaful provides risk protection in accordance
with Sharia using principles of Ta'awun (mutual assistance), brotherhood,
piety and ethical operations. |
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Misconception No. 3: |
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All Insurance is a form of
Gambling of Wagering, which is forbidden in Islam |
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Risk or uncertainty can be divided
into: Pure Risk and Speculative Risk. Pure Risk involves the possibility
of Loss or No Loss. For example, damage to property due to fire. Pure Risks
are the subject of insurance risk protection and Takaful. On the other hand,
Speculative Risks involves the possibility of Loss, No Loss or Gain. For
example, venturing into a new business, or gambling on horse race. Speculative
Risks that include a potential gain or profit cannot be insured. |
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Takaful schemes use the principle of indemnification
to compensate for the loss that occurs to a Takaful Participant. Takaful
insures only Pure Risks and claims pay in the event of Loss to cover repairs,
damage, replacement of property, or an agreed fixed sum. In Takaful Taawuni
(assurance), the compensation equals each participant's accumulated savings
plus investment profit added to a sum covered taken from the Takaful general
pool. |
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Misconception No. 4: |
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All Insurance seeks to maximize profits
which takes benefits away from policyholders |
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Most conventional insurance companies
are stock companies that seek to maximize profits. Since the interests of
shareholders conflicts with policyholders, by raising prices, denying claims,
etc. these insurers can boost profits for shareholders. Takaful operators,
by contrast, are mutual or cooperative entities. The goal of Takaful is
community well-being and self-sustaining operations - not high profits.
Under the Takaful Mudarabah Model, surplus (or "profits") is shared fairly
between shareholders and policyholders. Under the Takaful Wakalah Model,
surplus is owned by the policyholders and may be reduced by a performance
fee incentive for the operator before distribution to the policyholders. |
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Misconception No. 5: |
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All Takaful operators are the Same |
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Alhumdilallah , in Islam there is
unity in diversity. Over the centuries, several Takaful Models have evolved
which are approved by Islamic scholars. While they all share the fundamental
goals of cooperative risk sharing, these models differ slightly in legal
structure and organizational operations. Takaful Models usually are described
by the Islamic contracts used; namely Hebbah or 100% Tabarru (Sudan), or
al Mudarabah {Bahrain/Malaysia}, or Al Wakalah {Saudi Arabia}. |
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Misconception No. 6: |
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Insurance shemes are a modern day invention |
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Actually, social arrangements for
pooling of risks existed may centuries ago. The Takaful system evolved from
ancient methods of risk protection in Arabia 14 centuries ago called : (a)
daman Khtr-altariq-surety for traders; (b) a'qila - payment to family of
murdered victim by accused relatives (c) hilf - confederation for mutual
assistance. The year 1706 marked the emergence in United Kingdom of the
first "perpetual assurance scheme". The first insurance company in America
(1740s) founded by Ben Franklin was a merchant's cooperative. However, in
modern times many of these old cooperatives have "demutualized" and converted
into stock companies to pursue higher profits. |
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Misconception No. 7: |
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"I don't need Insurance/Takaful." |
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A Takaful scheme gives us an opportunity
to practice the virtues of Islam, including self-purification. Surah Al
Maidah (V.2) says: "Help one another in furthering virtue and Taqwa (God-consciousness),
and do not help one another in evil and transgression." In Hadith by Ahmad
and Abu Daud: "Whosoever fulfils the intention of his brother, Allah will
fulfil his intentions." And "Always help those who helps his brother." |
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The first Constitution in Medinah
(622 CE) arranged by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) contained three aspects directly
related to risk protection: social insurance for the Jews, Ansar and Christians;
Article 3 concerning 'wergild' or 'blood money' and provision for Fidyah
(ransom) and Aqila. We should follow his example to meet our needs and social
obligations. |
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A Takaful scheme provides us the self-discipline
for savings and the habits of sound financial planning to take care of ourselves
and the needs of our children and families. Hadith by Sahih Al-Bukhari,
as narrated by Amir bin Saad bin Abi Waqqas, describes Prophet Muhammad
(PBUH) as saying: "verily, it is better for you to leave your offspring
(heirs) wealthy than to leave them poor asking others for help" and "..The
one who looks after and works for a widow and for a poor person is like
a warrior fighting for Allah's cause.." Also, from Sahih Muslim Hadith No.
59, as narrated by Abu Huraira, has the Holy Prophet (PBUH) saying: "Whosoever
removes a wordly hardship from a believer, Allah (swt) will remove from
him one of the hardships of the day of Judgment." |
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Takaful operations can provide an
effective method to accumulate the savings of individuals for the collective
good of the community. In many Muslim communities lacking capital resources,
a Takaful can become an engine for economic growth and development by channeling
its funds into Sharia approved investments sponsored by the local business
community. |
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