Most-asked question

Is medical aid permissible?

69 fatawa in the archive answer questions on this, from 6 South African Darul Iftas (Mufti Online, AskImam, Ibn Masood, Azaadville, MUBZ, MJC). Below, each Darul Ifta’s answer is quoted word for word from the opening of one of its fatawa.

Based on the fatawa linked below. Please read the sources and double-check with a Darul Ifta for your situation.

Consult a mufti for your situation. Fatawa SA is a read-only archive and issues no rulings of its own.

What the Darul Iftas say

“One is permitted to take benefit from an involuntary medical aid policy. The example of an involuntary medical aid policy is where an employer enforces the medical aid upon his employees with the employee having no choice in the matter.”

Ibn Masood — Non-Members Benefitting From Medical Aid · 28 Aug 2024

“Conventional Medical Aid: All conventional medical aid schemes are not permissible as they have three prohibited elements: interest, gambling and uncertainty. We will explain each one separately:”

MUBZ — Medical Aid/Hospital Plan · 16 Jun 2024

“Voluntary Medical aid and hospital plans are not permissible due to them being akin to Insurance. Insurance is Haram due to it containing the components of Riba (interest) and Gambling.”

Azaadville — Medical Aid And Hospital Plans · 10 Jan 2024

“Since this Discovery medical aid scheme is based on the Takaaful insurance model, and the Takaaful insurance model is no different to conventional insurance as the elements of gambling and riba (interest) are found in them, this medical aid scheme is also not permissible.”

Mufti Online — Discovery medical aid scheme · 26 Dec 2022

Quotes are the opening words of each answer as published; the full answer, its conditions and references are on the fatwa page. Answers depend on the exact details of each question.

Read the fatawa

  1. Non-Members Benefitting From Medical Aid Ibn Masood · 28 Aug 2024
  2. Medical Aid/Hospital Plan MUBZ · 16 Jun 2024
  3. Medical Aid And Hospital Plans Azaadville · 10 Jan 2024
  4. Health insurance Mufti Online · 8 May 2023
  5. Are medical aid and hospital plans permissible? AskImam · 23 Jun 2020
  6. Ruling on Medical Aid MJC · 25 Aug 2023
  7. Subscribing to an involuntary medical aid policy Ibn Masood · 5 Dec 2023
  8. Mandatory Medical Aid Azaadville · 14 Oct 2022
  9. Discovery medical aid scheme Mufti Online · 26 Dec 2022
  10. Medical Aid and hospital plan AskImam · 3 Mar 2018
  11. Medical Aid Ibn Masood · 28 Feb 2023
  12. Shar’ee solution to medical aid schemes Mufti Online · 24 Sep 2022
  13. Company provided health insurance AskImam · 7 Feb 2018
  14. Discovery Medical Aid scheme Ibn Masood · 5 Dec 2022
  15. Insurance Policies, Medical Aid and Hospital Plan Mufti Online · 13 Jan 2020

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