Question:-
For many years, I worked as an accountant in a life insurance company. I did not record any interest and none of my duties involved any interest or loans . I did not sell any life insurance although I did report sales of life insurance, and I calculated staff salaries based on sales achievements. I quit this job 4 years ago to avoid sin. My question is : “Will I incur sin if I use the money that I saved from my salary from that insurance company?”
Answer:-
Since products sold in insurance companies are based on interest and gambling, it will not be permissible to work in such companies. [Re: Fataawa Darul Uloom Zakariyya Vol:5 Pg:443] The income derived from this job will therefore not be permissible, hence one is required to dispose of funds accrued from insurance companies (in the form of salaries) by distributing it to poor people that qualify as recipients of Zakaat. [Re: Fataawa Darul Uloom Zakariyya Vol:5 Pg:659] There are other Ulama that hold a different view on the matter. However, it will be best to adopt the above view which seems to be most correct and is a more cautious view.
ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Maulana Ahmed Saeed
Date: 02 Shabaan 1445 /13 February 2024
