Fatwa ID: 08230

Answered by: Alimah Humairah Badshah

Question:

Assalamualaikum, a shop rented out to a betting company is acquired through inheritance. The lease has expired, but the lease has a clause that says only the tenant (the betting company) can break the lease, not the landlord. Since the lease cannot be broken by the inheriting party, under these circumstances, is it acceptable to extend the lease and continue to collect rent?

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

Wa’alaykumussalaam,

It is technically permissible to rent a property to a betting company because a landlord is not responsible for what the tenant does in the property. For the same reason, it is permissible to rent out a property to a non-Muslim, even though one knows they may engage in acts contrary to Islamic principles, such as idol worship.

However, this situation is not ideal, and it is encouraged to avoid facilitating haram activities like gambling. The earnings from such an arrangement may be lacking in blessings (barakah). You should carefully review the penalties associated with breaking the contract from your side and assess whether it is feasible for you to proceed with that option. Another potential route may be to sell the property if that is a viable choice.

It is advisable to consult with a lawyer specializing in property law and contracts to help you navigate these complexities and explore the best possible solution.

Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best.

Written by Alimah Humairah Badshah
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham

References:

(قَوْلُهُ وَجَازَ إجَارَةُ بَيْتٍ إلَخْ) هَذَا عِنْدَهُ أَيْضًا لِأَنَّ الْإِجَارَةَ عَلَى مَنْفَعَةِ الْبَيْتِ، وَلِهَذَا يَجِبُ الْأَجْرُ بِمُجَرَّدِ التَّسْلِيمِ، وَلَا مَعْصِيَةَ فِيهِ وَإِنَّمَا الْمَعْصِيَةُ بِفِعْلِ الْمُسْتَأْجِرِ وَهُوَ مُخْتَارٌ فَيَنْقَطِعُ نِسْبِيَّتُهُ عَنْهُ، فَصَارَ كَبَيْعِ الْجَارِيَةِ مِمَّنْ لَا يَسْتَبْرِئُهَا أَوْ يَأْتِيهَا مِنْ دُبُرٍ وَبَيْعِ الْغُلَامِ مِنْ لُوطِيٍّ وَالدَّلِيلُ عَلَيْهِ أَنَّهُ لَوْ آجَرَهُ لِلسُّكْنَى جَازَ وَهُوَ لَا بُدَّ لَهُ مِنْ عِبَادَتِهِ فِيهِ

Radd Al-Muhtaar (Halabi ed., Daar Al-Fitr, https://shamela.ws) v.6 p.392