Is It Permissible to Work as an Insurance Damage Estimator?
Hanafi Fiqh
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
I work as an estimator for damage repair, which insurance adjusters use to approve claims. I’m not directly involved in riba, but my clients might be. Is this work permissible in Islam?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.
I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question.
If your job as a damage repair estimator in the insurance industry entails assessing vehicle damage, creating detailed repair estimates, and collaborating with customers, insurers, and repair shops to ensure efficient and accurate repairs, then your job in itself is permissible, as the work itself has no element of impermissibility. However, it will still be disliked.
Assistance in Sin
In the Hanafi School, this has levels:
- It is haram to do that which is a direct cause for sin;
- It is disliked doing that which is an indirect cause for sin;
- It is better to avoid that which could be a cause for sin. [Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar; Zayla‘i, Tabyin al-Haqa’iq]
In the Hanafi school of thought, working as an estimator for damage repair, even if your clients include insurance adjusters who may be involved in interest-based (riba) transactions, is generally considered permissible. Here’s why:
One: Your Work Itself is Lawful
Estimating damage and repair costs is a neutral service that does not directly involve impermissible transactions like interest (riba) or gambling (maysir).
Two: Indirect Association
The fact that insurance companies may deal with interest does not make your income haram unless your work directly assists in an impermissible act. Since you only provide an assessment, not engage in writing interest-based contracts or enforcing them, your role remains permissible.
In conclusion, according to the Hanafi school, your work as an estimator is permissible, provided you are not directly facilitating riba-based transactions. If you want to be extra cautious, you could explore working with companies with ethical or Sharia-compliant insurance models.
Please go through the valuable answers and links below. Insha’Allah, they will provide you with guidance and direction.
Related
- Provision and Work: A Reader–SeekersGuidance
- What Are The Principles Of Work And Assisting In Sin? (Video)
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I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Mawlana Ilyas Patel has received a traditional education in various countries. He started his schooling in the UK and completed his hifz of the Quran in India. After that, he joined an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied secular and Aalimiyya sciences. Later, he traveled to Karachi, Pakistan, and other Middle Eastern countries to further his education. Mawlana has served as an Imam in the Republic of Ireland for several years and taught the Quran and other Islamic sciences to both children and adults. He also worked as a teacher and librarian at a local Islamic seminary in the UK for 12 years. Presently, he lives in the UK with his wife and is interested in books and gardening.
