Q.As you are aware iam sure that the economic changes calls for businesses to make new decisions. To keep certain business to keep paying rent, rents have gone down for certain businesses, whilst others are to pay higher amounts.

What is the sharias opinion when the one leasing a building is told that if a grocery store rents it, the rent is $5000 whilst a watch keeper pays $2500.  Is this not discrimination? is this fair in islam? All parties are Muslims.

A. Such a transaction is correct according to the book of fiqh. The one renting need only pay the amount stipulated according to the contractual agreement. One can be charged in relation to the trade they are part of. This is not discrimination. Should one find that they are unfairly charged, they should go to a place that can better accommodate their wishers.

Allah Certainly Knows Best.