Is the lessor required to stipulate that the lessee not place certain prohibited items in the house? And if he places prohibited items, is he sinful?
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The questioner : His EminenceThe Shaykh : Is the lessor required to stipulate that the lessee not place certain prohibited items in the house he will reside in? And if he places certain prohibited items, is the lessor sinful? I hope for your guidance, may Allah guide you.
The Shaykh : As for the obligation of stipulation, it is not obligatory, unless this becomes widespread among people. In that case, we may say: it is obligatory to stipulate. But if it is not widespread among people, then no. Perhaps you are referring to satellite dishes?
The questioner : Yes, satellite dishes and televisions.
The Shaykh : No, the television is not like the satellite dish. The satellite dish brings in all the television channels from all over the world, and it brings in terrible things—may Allah protect us from them. We know with certainty that its makers, its promoters, and those who strive to broadcast these matters, we know that they intended to undermine Islam. But they cannot openly say: "Associate partners with Allah." That is not possible. But if they make evil deeds attractive to people and they become engrossed in desires, they are lost, and all sins become trivial to them. For example, if this becomes widespread among people—and we ask Allah not to let it spread—but we do not know what is behind the wall, and we do not know the unseen. If it becomes widespread, it is obligatory for a person to stipulate, saying: "The condition is that you do not install a satellite dish." If he installs it, the lessor has the right to rescind the contract, whether the lessee agrees or not. I mean the lessee, whether he agrees or not. But if he did not intend to, then no. If we assume that he did not stipulate this condition, and then the lessee installed it, the lessor is not sinful. But if his term expires, he must not renew it for him, except on the condition that he removes it.
The questioner : And the same for the television?
The Shaykh : No, the television is not [like that], for it only brings in Saudi channels. And the Saudi channels, despite the affliction in them, are less severe than what the satellite dish brings.
The questioner : But it is not required that he rescind the contract when his term ends.
The Shaykh : It is not required.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : As for the obligation of stipulation, it is not obligatory, unless this becomes widespread among people. In that case, we may say: it is obligatory to stipulate. But if it is not widespread among people, then no. Perhaps you are referring to satellite dishes?
The questioner : Yes, satellite dishes and televisions.
The Shaykh : No, the television is not like the satellite dish. The satellite dish brings in all the television channels from all over the world, and it brings in terrible things—may Allah protect us from them. We know with certainty that its makers, its promoters, and those who strive to broadcast these matters, we know that they intended to undermine Islam. But they cannot openly say: "Associate partners with Allah." That is not possible. But if they make evil deeds attractive to people and they become engrossed in desires, they are lost, and all sins become trivial to them. For example, if this becomes widespread among people—and we ask Allah not to let it spread—but we do not know what is behind the wall, and we do not know the unseen. If it becomes widespread, it is obligatory for a person to stipulate, saying: "The condition is that you do not install a satellite dish." If he installs it, the lessor has the right to rescind the contract, whether the lessee agrees or not. I mean the lessee, whether he agrees or not. But if he did not intend to, then no. If we assume that he did not stipulate this condition, and then the lessee installed it, the lessor is not sinful. But if his term expires, he must not renew it for him, except on the condition that he removes it.
The questioner : And the same for the television?
The Shaykh : No, the television is not [like that], for it only brings in Saudi channels. And the Saudi channels, despite the affliction in them, are less severe than what the satellite dish brings.
The questioner : But it is not required that he rescind the contract when his term ends.
The Shaykh : It is not required.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.