I own apartments that I have designated for rent, and I learned from the office manager that some of those who want to rent these apartments do not pray. Is there any guidance?
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The questioner : I have a number of properties, apartments, and I want to rent them out. I learned from the office manager that some of these people who will rent these apartments do not pray. What is your advice to me, may you be rewarded?
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment:
A person who has property to rent out, whether it is a building containing many apartments or a private house, should not rent it out except to someone whose religion and character he approves of, in order to help this tenant with his needs and fulfill his requirements.
As for the case where the tenant is known for evil, open sinfulness, and abandoning obligatory duties, especially the prayers, then it is not permissible to rent to him. However, I do not assert that it is forbidden, meaning I do not assert that renting to him is forbidden, because this tenant did not rent the place to hide in it from prayer. If that were the case, I would assert that it is forbidden. But he rented it to live in it in a permissible manner. So if he disobeys Allah in it, that does not necessitate that renting to him is forbidden.
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions, and upon those who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment:
A person who has property to rent out, whether it is a building containing many apartments or a private house, should not rent it out except to someone whose religion and character he approves of, in order to help this tenant with his needs and fulfill his requirements.
As for the case where the tenant is known for evil, open sinfulness, and abandoning obligatory duties, especially the prayers, then it is not permissible to rent to him. However, I do not assert that it is forbidden, meaning I do not assert that renting to him is forbidden, because this tenant did not rent the place to hide in it from prayer. If that were the case, I would assert that it is forbidden. But he rented it to live in it in a permissible manner. So if he disobeys Allah in it, that does not necessitate that renting to him is forbidden.