Question
We bought a property which had a lease in place with a butchery that sells non halaal products. The lease is expiring soon, can we still keep the butchery as a tenant?
Answer
It will not be permissible for a Muslim landlord to lease out his property for any Haraam business. Our suggestion is that the rental monies currently attained during the tenancy should be given away in charity. Also once the lease agreement terminates, you should not renew the lease of such a
tenant.
However, this is in the case where all of the products or the majority of the products sold in the butchery are Haraam. If only a minority of the goods are Haraam, then you may keep the butchery as a tenant if you wish and also utilize the rental.
Checked and Approved By:
Mufti Muhammed Saeed Motara Saheb D.B.
References
وإذا استأجر الذمي من المسلم بيئا ليبيع فيه الخمر لم يجز؛ لأنة معصية فلا ينعقد العقد عليه ولا أجر له عندهما، وعند أبي حنيفة – رجمة الله – يجوز
(المبسوط للسرخسى ج١٦ ص٣٨)
إذا استأجر الدمي من المسلم بيتا ليبيع فيه الخمر جاز عند أبي حنيفة – رحمة الله تعالى – خلافا لهما. كذا في المضمرات.
(الفتاوى الهندية ج٤/ص٤٤٩)