Question Summary:
Can you purchase a property with a church as a tenant?

Question Detail:

Can you purchase a property with a church as a tenant?

Answer :

Answer:
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
According to Imam Abu Haneefah (Rahmatullahi Alayhi), it is permissible for one to lease one’s property to a non-Muslim for the purposes of running a church, synagogue or even selling wine. However, according to Imam Muhammed (Rahmatullahi Alayhi), Imam Abu Yusuf (Rahmatullahi Alayhi) and the other three Imam’s, it is not permissible for the lessor to lease out his property for such purposes.[1]
The main issue of discussion is I’anah alal Ma’siyah (assisting in sin). The Fuqaha have differed regarding the classification of “Assisting in Sin”.
The ideal ruling would be that one does not lease one’s property for such purposes. If one has Taqwa, firm Eemaan and courage, one should abstain from such an arrangement.
Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) says:
وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْإِثْمِ 
“And do not assist one another in sin” (Qur’an 5:2)
If one is in financial constraints and experiences difficulty in abstaining from leasing the property for such purposes referred to in the question, then one will be excused to lease out the property.
Kindly refer to the following link for more details on leasing out one’s property to non-Muslims: http://daruliftaa.net/Islamic-Finance/rentproperty.html[2]
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Moulana Ismail Desai,
Student Darul Iftaa
Durban, South Africa
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.