Historical lessons

Everyone knows the reason for the strike by traders in Mubarakiya - a hike in rent by 500 percent. The increase is too much and activities are very sparse, and this market is what is left from the old market to document our old history. Despite this fact, they are using all their capacity to harass the simple people in their livelihood. In whose interest are these inconsiderate policies to raise the rent?

If we go back in history during the early forties of last century, a respected merchant - the late Suleiman Al-Luhaib bought real estate near Mubarakiya market, and all investors thought the new merchant, who was originally from Najd, will increase the rent, so some of them started to grumble, and this reached Luhaib.

Rents then were governed by a law and he had the right to raise them, but he went in the morning to his new property, which had many shops, and asked the biggest vendor, who had more than one shop: How is the market situation with you? The merchant complained about slow business due to the effects of World War II in general, so Luhaib asked him: Is the current rent high? The lessee said: Our shops were bought by a merchant from Najd, and we are afraid he may raise the rent, and we all will lose. The landlord asked for a solution in his opinion. The lessee replied that they hope that he does not raise the rent at all. Luhaib then reduced the rent for all, and all lessees were happy and their activities increased as well as the love and prayers for Suleiman Al-Luhaib.

He stars in another story that shows us Kuwaiti men of the past cared for their work and for each other. A lessee sold his shop and charged 20,000 rupees to vacate it. The seller then told Luhaib: I sold the shop for this amount as vacating fee. Do you want any of it? He answered, while playing dama with his friend in a shop: No. Then the new renter asked him: Will the rent be the same? Luhaib replied: Yes, as it is, and may Allah bless your trade.

This is how they were in dealing with lessees, so they succeeded and left us with impressions of their work that are told to us generation after generation. May Allah bless you Bu Mohammad, Suleiman Al-Luhaib. Amen.