My father rented out a building to a man who does not pray, and he has stayed for three years without praying in congregation, he and his sons, and since the mosque is close to the building and the contract has ended

The questioner : My father rented out a building to a man who does not pray, and he has stayed for three years without performing the prayer in congregation, he and his sons, and since the mosque is close to the building, not more than fifty meters away, the contract between him and my father has ended. He is a tenant who wishes to renew the contract, so I told my father, "Do not renew this man's contract because he does not pray." Is there any blame on my father?

The Shaykh : There is no blame on a person if he rents to one who abandons an obligatory duty that does not take him out of Islam, and abandoning the congregational prayer does not take one out of Islam, but the one who abandons it is sinful. However, we advise the father, if he wants to renew the contract, to stipulate that the tenant maintain the prayer in congregation, for the assistance that provides in righteousness and piety, and for keeping people's tongues from gossip. If he commits to this condition, that is what is desired. If he does not commit to it, it is better to rent it to a person who is pious toward Allah (Mighty and Majestic), for dealing with the pious is better than dealing with those who are not pious.

The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.