Leasing a property to a tavern

QUESTION:

A Muslim owner is renting out his shop to a tenant who intends opening up a tavern. Is it permissible for the owner to receive rental money from this tenant?

ANSWER:

It is not permissible to lease out one’s property to a tavern. The monies derived from such an income is Haraam.

وَإِذَا اسْتَأْجَرَ الذِّمِّيُّ مِنْ الْمُسْلِمِ بَيْتًا لِيَبِيعَ فِيهِ الْخَمْرَ لَمْ يَجُزْ؛ لِأَنَّهُ مَعْصِيَةٌ فَلَا يَنْعَقِدُ الْعَقْدُ عَلَيْهِ وَلَا أَجْرَ لَهُ عِنْدَهُمَا، وَعِنْدَ أَبِي حَنِيفَةَ – رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ – يَجُوزُ (المبسوط للسرخسي ص38 ج16)

ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:

Mufti Mohammed Desai

Date:- 26 Muharram 1445 / 14 August 2023