NAPSA and NHIMA
| Fatwa #2140 | Category: Business & Trade | Country: Zambia | Date: 15th July 2026 |
| Fatwa #2140 | Date: 15th July 2026 |
| Category: Business & Trade | |
| Country: Zambia | |
Question
السلام علیکم ورحمتہ اللہ وبرکاتہ محترم جناب مفتی صاحب
اُمید کرتا ہوں کہ آپ خیر و عافیت سے ہوں گے،
نمہ (NHIMA)کی حقیقت کیا ہے؟ اور اس کا حکم کیا ہے؟
کی حقیقت کیا ہے؟(NAPSA)
اس کا حکم کیا ہے؟
تفصیل کے ساتھ جواب ارسال فرما کر شکریہ کا موقع عنایت فرمائیں ۔
Translation:
What is NHIMA and NAPSA and what ruling does it have? Please explain fully.
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
NAPSA and NHIMA are Zambian government legislated funds with the purpose of securing pensions for retirees and health insurance for individuals. Both NAPSA and NHIMA are legally required for employees of any sort. Private individuals are at liberty to either enter into said funds or refrain.
The purpose of these funds is to invest contributions into a diverse portfolio (inclusive of Halal and Haram avenues) which will then increase over time allowing members to eventually receive benefits either in the form of monthly pensions or payment of medical fees.
It is only permissible to voluntarily invest into a fund that strictly confines its portfolio to Halal companies and stocks. It is impermissible to invest into Haram companies and stocks and the profits or dividends received from such investments will need to be disposed off by giving it away in charity.
However, NAPSA and NHIMA are government mandated schemes such that one does not have a choice in the initial decision to invest as well as the portfolio into which it shall be invested. Hence, their ruling is different to voluntary pensions. Furthermore, these statutory deductions are made before an employee receives his full salary i.e. the employee does not receive part of his salary which has been deducted as required by law to contribute to these funds. Accordingly, the contributions will be considered as pending dues. Additionally, the profits/interest/dividends generated from these contributions when eventually given to the individual, be it gradually or as a lump sum or as subsidised medical fees, will be considered as a gift from the employer and the respective government bodies. Accordingly, it will be permissible to receive pension payouts from NAPSA as well as make use of the NHIMA scheme.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mufti Bilal Pandor
Concurred by
Mufti Muhammad Patel
Darul Iftaa Mahmudiyyah
Lusaka, Zambia