Islamic jurists call Wakf’s property insurance move un-Islamic

Srinagar, Jan 07: Islamic jurists have opposed the Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Wakf Board’s decision to insure its properties, by terming it as an “un-Islamic” practice.
The Wakf Board has issued a notification wherein it invited tenders from insurance companies for covering its properties against all risks.
The estimated cost of Wakf properties for which the tenders have been invited has been put at Rs 84,94,00,000. The tenders have been invited for insurance cover against all risks of the 168 Wakf properties.
Terming insuring properties as “un-Islamic” Mufti Nasir ul Islam, J&K’s deputy grand Mufti, said that Wakf Board should refrain from this “illegal” practice.
“As per the present system in Kashmir, there is interest involved in insurance. So that Wakf should refrain from this practice,” Islam told The Kashmir Monitor.
Deputy grand Mufti said that Wakf should look for other alternatives instead insuring its properties.
“Alternatives should be where there is no interest involved,” he added.
Mufti Zia ul Haq said insuring a religious place is “un-Islamic”.
“It is the responsibility of the government to protect the religious places. If any untoward incident happens, people should build it from their own money,” he said.
Asked whether Wakf could insure other property, he said, “Some jurists allow insuring property under some conditions but that they don’t fulfil here too.”
Mufti Ahmad Sayeed Shah said that it was a “complicated” issue and the Wakaf Board should look into all aspects. “Before insuring any property, we have to look under what circumstances and on what conditions they decided to insure,” he said.
Moulana Abid Malik said that all kinds of insurance are “prohibited” in Islam.
“People are permitted to insure properties under some circumstances like insuring a car where there is no other option left,” he said. However, he said that insuring religious places was totally prohibited in Islam.
“Wakf Board should refrain from this un-Islamic practice,” Malik said. He cautioned people from insuring their properties, saying it has been prohibited in Islam.
An official from the Wakf Board said 168 properties including shrines would be covered under insurance cover in the first phase. “The rest properties will be covered in the second phase,” he said.
He said Wakf Board had no other option rather than to insure its property in the backdrop a lot of its property was gutted in fire or partially damaged due to fire.
“The state does not function as per Sharia law, then why shall we pin-point only this issue? Insurance is for the safety of Wakf property,” he added.
Vice Chairman of the Wakf Board, Nizamuddin Bhat, refused to comment on the issue.
“I don’t want to comment on religious issues,” he said.