Frequently Asked Questions FAQ’s
The term Takaful is originally an Arabic word that means
self-guarantee or responsibility or more generally “taking care of one’s
needs”. Thus, the word Takaful refers to shared responsibility,
shared-guarantee, collective assurance and/or mutual undertakings by
a group.
Takaful works on the basis of an agreement made by the Participants
of the Takaful scheme. Each Member agrees that he/she is one of the
insured by buying a policy. Each pays a premium to the scheme,
which is both used to compensate claims and is also invested in
approved instruments. A Takaful company cannot, for example, invest
in activities that deal in interest, alcohol, gambling or uncertainty. The
profits made from the permitted investments are divided among the
participants in the scheme.
Takaful Insurance of Africa (TIA) provides a wide range of General
Takaful products,
Motor
Fire
Burglary
Goods in Transit
Professional Indemnity
Money
Marine
Fidelity Guarantee, among
many others
We provide products designed for both corporate and individuals.
Our Micro-Takaful product range are designed and priced to bring
innovative products within the reach of individuals and communities
in our society.
The act of taking measures against possible dangers or consequences
does not go against the teachings of Islam. As described in the Qur’an,
Prophet Yusuf (Alaihis Salaam) ‘filled the grain silos from the surplus of
seven years of good harvest as a protection to ensure the availability of
continuous food during the seven lean years.’
However, Takaful differs from conventional insurance cover;
First, in a conventional insurance scheme, the insured person sells his
risk at a price to another party, thus introducing an element of “gharar”
(uncertainty) in the contract. Under Shariah, a contract of uncertainty
exists when the two parties do not know the nature of the counter-value
that they are trading.
A house may burn down, costing the insurer a large sum of money, or
it may not burn down in which case the insured person has paid a
premium and received nothing in return.
Second, conventional Insurers invest in ventures that involve interest or
some form of activity, which goes against Shariah principles.
Third, conventional insurance is not mutually beneficial, as certain
individuals (shareholders, for example) benefit at the expense of others.
In other words, commercial insurance companies exist to serve the
interest of shareholders first, not policyholders.
Finally, the guiding principle behind commercial insurance is that it is
based largely on commercial factors. Takaful, on the other hand, is
guided by the principles of improved welfare for all, which aims to
establish a social order based on universal brotherhood.
While the conventional insurance contract is one of transferring of risk
from the insured to the insurer for a premium, that is, one of risk
trading, the Takaful contract is based on the Islamic principle of
Tabarru, that is, a contract of self-insurance, or self-guaranteeing
among members of a group.
Uncertainty can never be eliminated. It remains in the Takaful contract
as well.
However, since the Takaful contract comes under contract of Tabarru
(donation), the uncertainty (gharar) is considered to be within tolerable
limits under Shariah.
Conventional Insurance being a contract of risk exchange contains
“excessive gharar” and therefore becomes illegal.
Takaful products are competitively priced, and are relatively cheaper
than conventional products, given the additional value offered Takaful
products, which cannot be matched by conventional insurance
products.
