Can a new tenant use the items left behind by the old tenant?

Nasihah (Advice): A Dua to find a lost item

Sayyiduna Abdullah Ibn Umar Radhiyallahu Anhu reports that Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam would recite the following Dua when misplacing something:

اللَّهُمَّ رَادَّ الضَّالَّةِ، وَهَادِيَ الضَّلَالَةِ تَهْدِيْ مِنَ الضَّلَالَةِ، اُرْدُدْ عَلَيَّ ضَالَّتِيْ بِقُدْرَتِكَ وَسُلْطَانِكَ، فَإِنَّهَا مِنْ عَطَائِكَ وَفَضْلِكَ

Allahumma raddad dallati wa hadiyad dalalati tahdi minad dalalati, urdud alayya dallati bi qudratika wa sultanika fa innaha min ata-ika wa fadlika

O Allah! The Returner of the lost and Guide of those astray, You are the Being who will show the right way out of misguidance, return my lost property to me with Your power and command because it is from Your gift and favour [to me]. [Al Mu’jamul Awsat]

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1. A tenant vacated the property and left behind some items. Can the new tenant use the items left behind by the old tenant? We don’t know if they forgot it or if they didn’t want it.

(Question published as received)

1. Any items belonging to a tenant that was left behind at the landlords property when the property was vacated remains the ownership of the tenant unless the tenant has relinquished rights over it.

It is incorrect for the new tenant to use or assume ownership of the items left behind by the old tenant until clarity is sought from the old tenant.

If the old tenant does not want the items left behind and has relinquished rights over it, the new tenant may use or assume ownership of the items. If not, the new tenant cannot use and assume ownership of the items. The items must be returned to the old tenant.

And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best

Mufti Ismaeel Bassa

Mufti Moosa Salie

(The answer hereby given is specifically based on the question asked and should be read together with the question asked. Islamic rulings on this Q&A newsletter are answered in accordance to the Hanafi Fiqh unless otherwise stated.) 

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