A Muslim living in non-Muslim country can lease a space of land to a bank to install cash machines. This is permissible as the machines are a tool mostly used to obtain cash on spot drawing it from one’s account.

Leasing a Property to Install Cash Machines

Similar Questions

• Leasing a place for some bank units;

• Leasing to a bank a location to install cash machines.

The Issue

A Muslim living in a country with a minority Muslim community may lease a piece of land or part of his shop so it could be used to install cash machines run by different banks. People will use these machines to obtain cash using their cards.

Ruling

Letting space to install cash machines (ATMs) for people to obtain cash is permissible according to Decision 13-5 of the Assembly of Muslim Jurists of America, adopted at its fifth convention held in 1428 AH, 2007, in Manama, Bahrain, and Decision 5-18 of the European Council for Fatwa and Research.

Evidence

Such machines are permissible since they are mostly used to obtain cash, drawing it on the spot from one’s own account or a loan. As such the cash machine is simply a tool for an individual to have ready money and if he has to pay interest on such a loan, this is done by the borrower. What the owner of the space receives for having such a machine is merely a fee for providing a service to people.

Sources

• Decisions by the Assembly of Muslim Jurists of America.

• Decisions by the European Council for Fatwa and Research.