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A lease is a binding contract. Thus, if he leases him something and then prevents him from using it for the entire term, or part of it, he is entitled to nothing.

His statement, “A lease”: the pronoun refers to leasing.

His statement, “a binding contract,” means that it cannot be rescinded except for a valid reason. Contracts are of three types: contracts that are non-binding for both parties; contracts that are binding for both parties; and contracts that are binding upon one party but non-binding for the other. This last type applies where the contract constitutes a right held by one of them against the other: it is non-binding for the one to whom the right belongs, and binding upon the one against whom it is held.

A sale is binding, because the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “The sale has become binding.” (1) Agency is a non-binding contract for both parties: either the agent or the principal may rescind it. Manumission by contract—that is, a slave’s purchase of his own freedom from his master—is binding on the part of the master but non-binding on the part of the slave. A pledge is non-binding on the part of the pledgee, but binding on the part of the pledgor.

A lease is a binding contract because it is a type of sale. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “When two men enter into a sale, each of them retains the option so long as they have not separated.” He then mentioned that once they separate, and neither of them has cancelled the sale, the sale has become binding.

He then drew a subsidiary ruling from this principle—that leasing is a binding contract—by saying:

“Thus, if he leases him something and prevents him”: that is, the lessor prevents him; the pronoun refers to the lessee. In other words, the lessor prevents the lessee.