Every month, without fail, rent is expected. No delays. No excuses. Payments must be made in full and on time.
But where is that same urgency when it comes to responsibility?
Leaks are ignored. Walls crack. Mould spreads. Electrical issues are prolonged. Safety becomes a concern. Requests are met with silence, threats or empty promises. Yet, the expectation remains unchanged, as if the duty only lies with the tenant.
This is not business. This is oppression.
In Islam, every transaction carries weight. It is not just an exchange of money, but a trust placed between two people. When a landlord accepts rent, they are accepting an amaanah, a responsibility to provide a space that is safe, liveable, and dignified.
To take someone’s hard-earned money while neglecting their living conditions is not just unfair, it is a betrayal of that trust.
Many tenants do not have the luxury of choice. They stay because they must. They endure because they have families to shelter, children to protect, and finance is limited to start over. They work long hours, and sacrifice their own comfort and luxury just to meet their obligations.
And still, they pay.
They pay while living with broken fittings, unsafe conditions, and constant uncertainty. They pay while their complaints go unheard. They pay despite being treated with arrogance. They pay with heavy hearts, silent tears, knowing they deserve better but feeling powerless to demand it.
Is this justice?
Has the love of money hardened hearts to the point where dignity no longer matters? Where power is used not to uphold fairness but to exploit vulnerability.
As Muslims, we are taught that justice is not optional. It is an obligation. The Prophet ﷺ warned against oppression, reminding us that it will be darkness on the Day of Judgment. What we overlook today, what we justify and excuse, will stand before us tomorrow.
A landlord’s position is not just ownership, it is a test of character.
Every ignored repair, every delay, every excuse made while still demanding full payment is being recorded. You may feel in control now. You may feel justified. Keep fooling yourself. Nothing escapes the knowledge of Allah.
So before demanding the next payment, reflect honestly.
Are you upholding justice or benefiting from someone else’s hardship?
Because true success is not in how much you take, but in how justly you give.
