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Purchasing properties owned by non-Muslims or tenanted with stores selling haraam items

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by Muftionline.co.za

Q: Please advise whether it is permissible to buy a property on which any of the following tenants are found:

1. Non muslim homes

2. Supermarkets that sell haram products

3. Liquor stores

4. Gambling dens

5. Non muslim places of worship

6. Banks

Bismillaah

A: It is permissible to purchase a property which has these types of businesses or occupations. However, one should understand that earning money through a bank, liquor store, gambling den, non-muslim places of worship such as a church or temple, etc. is not permissible as one will be aiding and supporting in sin and wrong.

If there is no long term lease contract with these tenants then one should terminate the contract at the first opportunity. If there is a long term lease contract, then when the lease contract ends, one should not renew the lease with these tenants. As far as the money acquired through these lease contracts is concerned, it should be given in charity to the poor without the intention of earning any reward. According to some ulama, the money can be used for paying rates or impermissible taxes imposed by the government.

And Allah Ta’ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

Answered by:

Mufti Zakaria Makada

Checked & Approved:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)

This answer was collected from MuftiOnline.co.za, where the questions have been answered by Mufti Zakaria Makada (Hafizahullah), who is currently a senior lecturer in the science of Hadith and Fiqh at Madrasah Ta’leemuddeen, Isipingo Beach, South Africa.

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