The Ruling on What Is Called “Khalu al-Rijal”

Question:
We return at the beginning of this episode to a message sent to the program from Sudan by a listener who called himself Ayn Abu Shanab. We presented our brother with some questions in a previous meeting, but in this meeting he asks and says: What is the ruling on what is called “Khalu al-Rijal,” where one pays the person who vacates a commercial space for a new tenant and gives him a sum of money as “Khalu al-Rijal”? It is known that this money is paid only to the first tenant, and the owner of the place is not given anything from it. Does he really have a right to this money? May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions. To proceed: If the tenant has a remaining portion of the term in the premises, it is permissible for him to lease the remainder of his term to another who will succeed him, and his use of it will be like the use of the first tenant. This is because the remaining term is his property; he has the right to complete it himself, and he has the right to appoint a substitute to complete it for a fee or without a fee. However, if his term has ended, he has no entitlement to this premises to take money in exchange for it. He is required to leave the premises for its owner, who may lease it to whomever he wishes. He must hand over the premises to its owner when the term is completed, or he may lease it for another period if the owner of the premises agrees.