Imamate of one who does not pay house rent

Question

What is the status of the imamate of a person who neither vacates the house nor pays the rent, and harasses the owner of the house?

Answer

Neither vacating the house nor paying the rent is oppression (zulm) and usurpation (ghasb). Appointing such a person as imam is makruh tahrimi until he repents and reforms.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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