What is the ruling on insurance in America if a Muslim is given the choice between lying to obtain free treatment, or subscribing to a commercial insurance company (which involves Maysir), or paying for treatment costs through a usurious contract?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
A Muslim is not permitted to engage in forbidden acts such as lying, commercial insurance, and usury when there is ease and choice. However, if one is in need or compelled to seek treatment and cannot afford hospital expenses except by subscribing to health insurance, then there is no blame upon him in that, for Allah Almighty says: "And He has not placed upon you in religion any difficulty," and "So fear Allah as much as you are able." The came to avert and minimize evils, and health insurance in this case is lesser of an evil than lying and usury.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/77684
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 77684
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy