Question
Who is acceptable to have as a tenant? There is a building for sale. The building is made up of a few shops. There are some general retailers which I have no issue with. There is a bottle store on site which I know is not acceptable and the agent has advised me that he can request the terms of the sale be that this store moves out. There is also an undertaker as a tenant as well as a company providing financial services which include interest. Please advise if we can have the above as tenants. Please also advise which businesses we can strictly not have as tenants.
Answer
A Muslim should always be conscious of halal income and distance himself as much as possible from alcohol, interest and other non-Shari'ah compliant s o u r c e s o f i n - come. Ideally, we advise against having a bottle store or bank or (a company dealing with interest) as tenants. However in view of the practical difficulties of Muslim minorities in non-Muslim countries, our Akabireen have issued the fatwa on the opinion of Imam Abu Hanifah (Rahmatullah Alayhi) permitting leasing out one's property to a bottle store and a bank.
However leasing out to an avenue that is completely immoral, for example a casino, is prohibited. (End of the fatwa)
- Source
- themajlis.co.za
- Published in
- The Majlis Vol 25 No 04
- PDF page
- 6
Appears under ‘IBN MAS’OOD’S NASEEHAT (approximate).