What is the ruling on medical aid and hospital plan?

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

1/2) Conventional insurance, medical aid schemes and hospital plans are not permissible according to Shari’ah since they contain the inherent elements of Qimar (gambling) and Gharar (future uncertainty) which have been expressly prohibited in the Shari’ah.

3) In principal, it is not permissible for one to deposit money into an interest bearing account. One should immediately transfer the money into a non-interest bearing account if such an account is available. However, it is permissible to deposit one’s money into an interest bearing account if there is no other alternative.

In principal, one should return the interest money accrued from one’s bank account to it’s owner. However, if that is not possible, then the interest money accrued from the bank should be expended on the poor and needy (who are the valid recipients of Zakaat whether they are Muslim or non-Muslim) without the intention of receiving any reward since such money is tainted.[1]

Interest money can also be given to one’s poor relatives who are entitled to receive Zakaat, Islamic institutions and other charitable organizations.[2]

Interest money cannot be used for one’s personal expenses.[3]

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Mawlana Ismail Desai,
Student Darul Iftaa
Durban, South Africa

Checked and Concurred by,
Mufti Faisal bin Abdul Hameed,
Montréal, Canada