Can an advance rental payment be retaken by the lessee for his needs?
The answer
An advance rental payment cannot be retaken and nor can it be demanded by the lessee. Such a payment is transferred into the ownership of the lessor. An advanced rental payment can only be claimed in the event of a mutual cancellation prior to the initiation of a lease agreement or when the subject matter of the lease cannot be utilised on account of a deficiency from the lessor.[1]
And Allah knows best.
Mufti Faraz Adam
References
1ولا تجبُ الأجرةُ بالعقد، خلافاً للشَّافعي – رضي الله عنه -، فإنَّ الأجرةَ عنده تجبُ بنفسِ العقد، (بل بتعجيلها، فإنَّ المستأجرَ إذا عجَّلَ الأجرة، فالمُعَجَّلُ هو الأجرةُ الواجبة، بمعنى أنَّه لا يكونُ له حقُّ الاسترداد، (أو بشرطِه)، فإنَّهُ إذا شرطَ تعجيلَ الأجرةِ تجبُ معجَّلَة، (أو باستيفاءِ النَّفعِ أو التَّمكُّنِ منه، فتجبُ لدارٍ قبضتْ ولم يسكنْها، وتسقطُ بالغصبِ بقدرِ فوتِ تمكُّنِه.(شرح الوقاية)
Based on the Hanafi school and on the question as it was asked. Another mufti may reach a different conclusion. Read the disclaimer.