Renting a shop with a female face on the sign board
Fatwa No: 87886

Question

I have rented a shop for computers in my building. The shop's name board has a photo of female face on it. I did not know in advance that the name board will have such a photo. Is this allowed? If not then what is the solution? Is this just like renting a shop for supermarket where all sorts of things will be available like magazines with females as models? Hope you will answer this question. Thank you.

Answer

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.

If the rental of a house or shop is concluded on a permissible basis, and afterwards the tenant does or deals with any forbidden action, then the rental agreement is still in effect until the end of the tenancy agreement.

Ibn Abbidin said: 'If a tenant does an evil act in the house, like drinking alcohol, taking usury and interest, fornicating or committing adultery, then he has to be commanded with kindness to give that up, and the landlord or the neighbours have no right to drive him out of the house.  That is not an excuse to terminate the tenancy, and there is no difference of opinion about this according to the four Imams.'

Therefore, the brother has to advise the tenant to take off these pictures from the door of his property.  If he refuses, then he should not renew the tenancy agreement with him when it expires, but he has no right to kick him out – right away.

Allah knows best.

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