Is it permissible to rebuild a burnt mosque using the fire insurance payout from a Western insurance company?
Commercial insurance is forbidden because it is a form of gambling. Therefore, it is not permissible to enter into its contracts, whether for a mosque or for anything else. However, if a person is compelled to do so, it is permissible for him, but he should not benefit from the insurance money except to the extent of what he paid. Any surplus should be given as charity to the poor or spent on general Muslim interests such as building mosques. This is the view of Al-Ghazali, as transmitted by Al-Nawawi.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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