Hadith 224

38. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from al-Husayn ibn al-Nu’aym who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu al-Hassan, Musa (a. s. ), about the case of a man who has given a house to a man to live in for his lifetime, or it is for him and those whom he leaves behind, as the condition may be. I then said, ‘If needed can he then sell it? ’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, he can do so. ’ I then asked, ‘Does such a sale cancel its being given to the man for his living a lifetime? ’ He (the Imam) said, ‘The sale does not cancel its being given to one for living therein a lifetime. That is how I heard my father (a. s. ), say that abu Ja‘far (a. s. ), has said, “Selling does not cancel tenancy and rentals or being given to live a lifetime therein according to the condition and rent. ’” I then asked, ’What happens if the tenant asks for his expenses, building and maintenance for what he has rented? ’ He (the Imam) said, ‘If it is with mutual agreements then it is not harmful. ’”