Is it permissible to accept free life insurance if the insured's intention and will are for the money to be used after his death solely to pay off his debt, given that there is no one to pay on his behalf, especially with his frequent travels and the presence of young children?
It is not permissible to enter into a commercial insurance contract, whether for life or otherwise, due to the presence of gharar (excessive uncertainty), gambling, and usury therein. It is an invalid and forbidden contract according to Islamic law. If the company does not compel employees to subscribe, then it is not permissible to join it. Paying off debts after death does not justify subscribing, for whoever dies in debt and did not neglect to repay his debt, Allah will pay it on his behalf, based on the Prophet's (peace and blessings be upon him) saying: "Whoever takes people's money with the intention of repaying it, Allah will repay it on his behalf; and whoever takes it with the intention of destroying it, Allah will destroy him." Whoever subscribes to this insurance is not entitled, nor are his heirs, to anything more than the amount of premiums he actually paid, without any increase.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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