Aryavartha
02-09-2006, 18:08
That's right. Some people so desperately want to go back to 7th century that I wish I had a time machine to fulfill their wishes.
http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/sep22006/national18940200691.asp
Fatwa against insurance: another storm in a tea cup
From Puja Awasthi DH News Service Lucknow:
A fatwa declaring life insurance “un-Islamic” has thrown the community into consternation.
The fatwa was issued by Mufti Mohammed Zafeerudin of the Darul Uloom of Deoband decreeing that life insurance is not permissible because there is interest income in it and the act involves gambling as well, both of which are illegal under the Shariat. [note that shariat law is not constitutionally recognised and hence illegal in India. Muslims are allowed to have personal law boards for civic issues, not criminal issues and bulk of shariat laws deal with criminal issues]
It came on August 7 in response to a question posed by one Saleem Chisti of Lucknow, who was approached by an insurance company to buy a policy and become an agent.
The Mufti appended his fatwa with the explanation that life was a gift of Allah and a gift could not be insured or assured. “To do so would be to disrespect Allah,” he said.:confused:
But while the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has green lighted the fatwa, there is considerable criticism of the development.
Shaista Ambar, president of the All India Muslim Women’s Personal Law Board (AIMWPLB) says life insurance promises a security cushion.
“When the main bread-winner of the family passes away, how is a woman supposed to bring up her children? If there is no life insurance then women might be forced into prostitution to fend for their children,” she offers.
Ms Rukhsana Lari, also a member of AIMPLB is, however, emphatic that insurance is illegal. “Insurance is against the Shariat. Those who are covered under group insurance in their jobs should donate the interest and the maturity benefits. And, if under certain circumstances, one has to take a life insurance policy, the interest should not be accepted at any cost.”
But Hafeez Nomani, son of the late Maulana Nomani, co-founder of the AIMPLB describes the fatwa as a “regressive step”.
“There is no attempt by the maulanas to keep up with changes around the world. They appear to be defying the secular tradition all the time.
This is just like the fatwa issued prohibiting the pasting of photographs on Haj applications. It makes no sense and like the earlier instance, the maulanas will retreat this time too, doing no good to their image,” he says.
Shia clerics have also dismissed the fatwa, mainly because it comes from a body which governs the Sunnis. Maulana Kalbe Sadiq clarified that there was nothing wrong in taking an insurance policy. “It is a non issue for our community,” says the respected cleric.
Even among the Sunnis, the majority view is that insurance is gair munaasib (improper), but not haram (illegal). Convener of the Babri Masjid Action Committee Zafaryab Jilani says the issue is wide and cannot be settled by the issuance of a fatwa in response to an individual’s question.
http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/sep22006/national18940200691.asp
Fatwa against insurance: another storm in a tea cup
From Puja Awasthi DH News Service Lucknow:
A fatwa declaring life insurance “un-Islamic” has thrown the community into consternation.
The fatwa was issued by Mufti Mohammed Zafeerudin of the Darul Uloom of Deoband decreeing that life insurance is not permissible because there is interest income in it and the act involves gambling as well, both of which are illegal under the Shariat. [note that shariat law is not constitutionally recognised and hence illegal in India. Muslims are allowed to have personal law boards for civic issues, not criminal issues and bulk of shariat laws deal with criminal issues]
It came on August 7 in response to a question posed by one Saleem Chisti of Lucknow, who was approached by an insurance company to buy a policy and become an agent.
The Mufti appended his fatwa with the explanation that life was a gift of Allah and a gift could not be insured or assured. “To do so would be to disrespect Allah,” he said.:confused:
But while the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has green lighted the fatwa, there is considerable criticism of the development.
Shaista Ambar, president of the All India Muslim Women’s Personal Law Board (AIMWPLB) says life insurance promises a security cushion.
“When the main bread-winner of the family passes away, how is a woman supposed to bring up her children? If there is no life insurance then women might be forced into prostitution to fend for their children,” she offers.
Ms Rukhsana Lari, also a member of AIMPLB is, however, emphatic that insurance is illegal. “Insurance is against the Shariat. Those who are covered under group insurance in their jobs should donate the interest and the maturity benefits. And, if under certain circumstances, one has to take a life insurance policy, the interest should not be accepted at any cost.”
But Hafeez Nomani, son of the late Maulana Nomani, co-founder of the AIMPLB describes the fatwa as a “regressive step”.
“There is no attempt by the maulanas to keep up with changes around the world. They appear to be defying the secular tradition all the time.
This is just like the fatwa issued prohibiting the pasting of photographs on Haj applications. It makes no sense and like the earlier instance, the maulanas will retreat this time too, doing no good to their image,” he says.
Shia clerics have also dismissed the fatwa, mainly because it comes from a body which governs the Sunnis. Maulana Kalbe Sadiq clarified that there was nothing wrong in taking an insurance policy. “It is a non issue for our community,” says the respected cleric.
Even among the Sunnis, the majority view is that insurance is gair munaasib (improper), but not haram (illegal). Convener of the Babri Masjid Action Committee Zafaryab Jilani says the issue is wide and cannot be settled by the issuance of a fatwa in response to an individual’s question.