Landlord And Tenant Dispute
QUESTION:
I have been a tenant for 15 years and in June 2024, the premises next door to me became vacant. In July, a new tenant took occupation of the place.
The landlord was unable to install a separate electricity meter from mine on time, so he requested to install an electronic meter running off mine into next door. For 3 to 4 months, the tenant paid the bill in installments because he found it to be too high. The tenant then approached me and requested to pay 60% of the bill since he was using more than me, which I agreed to in order to avoid further disputes. When he stopped paying in February 2025, I complained to the landlord, fearing that the Municipality might disconnect the electricity. The landlord permitted me to disconnect his supply and as a result, the tenant vacated the the property leaving me with the unpaid bill.
The tenant left behind three ovens. The landlord told me to keep two ovens. After some time, the tenant returned to take his ovens and left one behind as collateral. However, this will not cover the outstanding amount.
Subsequently, I have decided to move out as the landlord had changed the municipal breakers to 80 amps, where I had only 30 amps from the time I occupied the premises. As a result, the Municipality have been charging me for 80 amps and despite raising the issue with them, the matter remains unresolved.
I approached the landlord but he has washed his hands off of all responsibility with both the second tenant and the Municipality. Please advise on how to resolve this matter?
ANSWER:
From the outset, the correct procedure was to install a completely separate meter for the second tenant as stated in the query, which would have avoided all the issues that cropped up later. Furthermore, you should have kept all three ovens of the second tenant as a collateral even though he demanded it, since he owed you a substantial amount for the electricity.
It is incorrect for the landlord to behave in this manner as he did not adopt the correct procedure to begin with.
According to our understanding, the way forward is that the second tenant should be contacted via a reputable Darul Ifta or the Jamiat, to pay off the outstanding amount as this is a serious matter.
Allamah Ibn Nujaim Rahimahullah writes in his Kitaab, “Alashbah Wannadhir”, that a person will be commanded to give 700 accepted Salaah on the day of Qiyaamah in lieu of usurping one Daaniq (one sixth of a Dirham) from another person.
جَاءَ فِي بَعْضِ الْكُتُبِ أَنَّهُ يُؤْخَذُ لِدَانَقٍ ثَوَابُ سَبْعِ مِائَةِ صَلَاةٍ بِالْجَمَاعَةِ (الأشباه ة النظائر 1/33)
May Allah Ta’ala make it easy for you and make an opening with ease and Aafiyah, Aameen.
Also, read the following Wazifah for your debtors paying the outstanding money:
ياَ صَمَدُ يَا عَزِيْزُ يَا مُغْنِيْ يَا نَاصِرُ
Perhaps thousands of people have benefitted from the Wazaa’if and Duas that Hadrat Hakim Akhtar Saheb Rahimahullah has prescribed for various problems. These prescriptions are derived directly from the Quraan and Hadith, or from the Names of Allah Ta’ala.
Hadrat states it is best to recite these names 119 times at once. If this is not possible, then recite it while walking, sitting, etc. There is no fixed amount, hence one may recite as much as he wants, but 119 times was prescribed, as it translates to “Ya Kaafi – O the Sufficient One”, when converting Arabic alphabets into numerals.
There was a businessman in Dhaka (Bangladesh). Someone owed him 400 000 or 500 000 Rupees but the debtor wasn’t coming forward to settle the debt. Hadrat advised him to recite the above Wazifah, he started reciting these four names of Allah Ta’ala and the debtor paid the money back shortly afterwards. The businessman, thereafter, took Bay’ah from Hadrat. Hadrat says there are many such incidents with regards to these blessed Names of Allah Ta’ala.
ALLAH TA’AALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Abdul Kader Fazlani
Date: 05 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1447 / 29 August 2025
CHECKED AND APPROVED BY:
Mufti Yacoob Vally Saheb