Is It Prohibited to Work for a Life Insurance Company?

Question: 69

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?

Summary of answer

Life insurance is a type of gambling, and thus working in this field is prohibited, and it is forbidden to be a partner in helping people towards sin and enmity.

Answer

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah and his family.

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.

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Source:

Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid