A friend of mine has gotten an offer from a life insurance company in the USA. He is a student but he must work to support himself and his study. What makes the problem worse is that he must find a job by Sept 97 otherwise he will be illegal and will be kicked out of the country. So my questions are: (1) is working in life insurance companies Haram? (2) Are these circumstances for my friend considered a necessity and can he get this job until get a better one instead of losing everything?
Life insurance is among the most severely prohibited types of insurance if not the single worst one. Life insurance is no doubt a type of gambling, and thus working in this field of employment is prohibited, and it is forbidden to be a partner in helping people towards sin and enmity.
While taking into consideration the situation of this brother and the difficulty and distress that he has fallen into, I can but say: (interpretation of the meaning)
{And for those who fear Allah, He (ever) prepares for him a way out. And He provides for him from (sources) he could never expect.} [At-Talaq: 2-3]
For more details, please see the following answers: 294684, 184222, 285242, 40336, 170654
Allah knows best.
