Should Masajids take out building insurance in order to protect themselves from claims from neighbours whose property may get damaged as a result of an incident involving the Masjid?

Q. Should masajids take out building insurance in order to protect themselves from claims from neighbours whose property may get damaged as a result of an incident involving the masjid?

الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما ومنه الصدق والصواب

The question of whether any given Masjid should take out buildings insurance is a decision for the Masjid committee and its congregation to make.  The Al-Qalam Panel can only comment as to whether it is permissible to do so.  In this latter regard, it is permissible for a Masjid to take out insurance to protect the Masjid from litigation.  If Sharī‘ah compliant insurance is available, the Masjid committee cannot avail of conventional insurance.  If no Sharī‘ah compliant insurance is available, as is currently the case in the UK, then the Masjid may avail of conventional insurance.

Whilst conventional insurance does not comply with Sharī‘ah requirements, it has become important in an increasingly litigious environment for the Masjid committee to ensure that the Masjid is covered in the case of litigation from a third party.  Such litigation may even come from the very users of the Masjid such as parents of children who have had an unfortunate accident within the Masjid.

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