Dalam banyak kesempatan sering dinyatakan bahwa di dalam Islam juga dikenal adanya asuransi yang disebut takaful. Karena itu takaful jamak disebut sebagai asuransi Islam (islamic insurance) atau asuransi syariah. Benarkah sesederhana ini?

Secara bahasa, takaful berasal dari akar kata “kafala” yang berarti memberikan jaminan, menolong, memberi nafkah, atau mengambil alih perkara seseorang. Kamus al-Munawir mengartikan “kafala” sebagai pertanggungan yang berbalasan atau hal saling menanggung. Arti-arti ini sekilas memang selaras dengan pengertian asuransi.

The term “takaful” is derived from its Arabic root word “kafala” which literally means “to guarantee”. In term of usage and implication, the term “kafala” certainly denotes the agreement by one party to indemnify another for any liability that has been pre-agreed upon¹. Takaful in islamic finance is the term used to describe insurance that is compliance with the Shariah or islamic law. Takaful operators (insurers) then have to conduct their business in a way that is shariah-compliant by avoiding the three prohibited elements (al-Riba, al-Gharar, and al-Maisir) that will make the operations void. The easiest part is to avoid riba, by investing the takaful fund in non-interest bearing instruments.

The Product. Takaful Al-Waqi Investment Linked Plan is an Islamic SIP launched by Maybank on July 2008. It is the shortest term single premium investment-linked islamic commodities funds of RM 200 million. Takaful Al-Waqi combines Shari’ah compliant fixed income and investment instrument structured to generate better returns, higher than that of a 12-months General Investment Account (GIA) or other Fixed Deposit Account rates. Takaful Al-Waqi as a closed-end investment-linked Takaful plan is managed by Etiqa Takaful Berhad (formerly known as Takaful Nasional Berhad).