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Can they take the diyah (blood money) for the deceased loved one from the insurance company?

09-01-2006

Question 70318

In our country the state requires car insurance, but the owner does not benefit from it at all. If the car hits a person and this accident leads to him being injured or dying, his family refer the case to the insurance company and this leads to the family of the person who has been injured or killed receiving compensation. This compensation does not affect the owner of the car in any way, whether positive or negative. What is the ruling on that? Please note that the family of the deceased have forgiven the owner of the car and the state is ruled by manmade laws.

Answer

Praise be to Allah.

Firstly: 

Commercial insurance is a forbidden kind of contract, and it is haraam in all forms. It is not permissible for anyone to participate in it unless he is forced to do so. We have explained the ruling on this in the answer to question no. 8889

Secondly: 

The fact that it is haraam to participate in insurance does not mean that it is haraam to take one's rights from the insurance company if it is required to pay to someone who has been affected by an accident. 

Based on this, there is no reason why one should not take the diyah for one who has been killed by accident or injured in an accident from whatever entity the those who are entitled to it have been referred, whether by the killer or the court, whether it is an insurance company or otherwise, because those who are entitled to the diyah are people who have a right, and they are not responsible for the other party’s dealings with the insurance company.  

We asked Shaykh Ibn Jibreen about taking compensation from the insurance company and he replied: That is permissible, because these companies are committed to bearing costs incurred by the one who is insured with them, and there is no reason to refrain from doing that so long as they are obliged to pay compensation. All that the one who caused the accident has to do – in the case of a death – is offer the expiation for accidental killing, if the accident was caused by a mistake on his part. 

And Allaah knows best.

Insurance Blood Money Killing by Mistake, Manslaughter
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