Islamic Ruling on Renting a House to a Shia Individual

Shar‘i Rulings on Renting a House to a Shia Individual


❖ Question:
Shaykh, is it permissible to rent a house to a Shia?


❖ Answer by:
Shaykh ʿUmar Atharī ḥafiẓahullāh

✿ Permissibility of Renting to a Shia ✿​

Yes, it is permissible to rent a house to a Shia, subject to the following conditions:

① He Should Not Be a Preacher of Shiism​

◈ The individual must not be actively involved in propagating Shia beliefs or calling others to Shiism.

② He Should Not Be a Ghāli (Extremist) Shia​

◈ The individual should not belong to the extremist sects within Shia ideology who indulge in clear blasphemy or severe deviations.

③ General Context in Pakistan​

◈ In Pakistan, most Shia individuals are not as extreme as described in the classical books.
◈ Many of them live peacefully without promoting sectarian agendas.

④ No Risk of Causing Fitnah​

◈ If there is no threat of fitnah (discord or corruption) in the neighborhood or within the household environment, then it is permissible to rent the house to them.

✿ Conclusion ✿​

Renting a house to a Shia is permissible as long as:
– He is not an active propagator of his beliefs,
– Not from extremist sects,
– And there is no risk of fitnah.