Takaful is based on the concept of mutual co-operation where participants mutually agree to help each other in times of need. A portion of the contributions paid by each participant is kept as Tabarru’ Fund (risk fund) and the pool of money in the fund will be used to pay for claims made by fellow participants. This is where the ‘helping each other’ concept comes in. In this case, a Takaful operator acts as the manager of the fund and not owner of the fund. Any excess in the risk fund will be distributed back to the eligible participants.
Whereas insurance policies are sold by the insurance company where the money is pooled in the risk fund owned by the insurance company and claims are paid from this fund. Policyholders of insurance plans do not share a pool of money to help other policyholders in need. An insurance policyholder takes up a plan with the insurance company to protect himself, his loved ones or his possessions only.