Chapter on the Rulings of Lease and Hire

This contract is repeatedly invoked in people’s lives—in their various interests and in their daily, monthly, and yearly dealings—so it deserves careful study. Every transaction that takes place among people, in any place or time, is subject to the law of Islam, whose guidelines secure benefits and ward off harm.

Linguistically, ijārah (lease/hire) stems from ajr, meaning compensation. The Exalted says, “Had you wished, you could have taken payment for it” (al-Kahf 18:77).

Juridically, ijārah is: a contract for a lawful benefit deriving from a specific asset or from an asset defined by description, for a known period, or for a known task, in return for known compensation.

This definition encompasses most of the conditions for the validity of ijārah and its various forms.

Their phrase “a contract for a benefit” excludes a contract for the asset itself; that is not called ijārah but a sale.

Their phrase “lawful” excludes a contract for an unlawful benefit, such as fornication.