Taking a wage for leading the prayer
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Fatwa number ( 19869 )
Q: There is a young man among the committed, whom we consider to be so, and Allah is his accountant, who says: We see the prayer of the imam who receives a government salary to be invalid, and that prayer behind him is not valid . This young man says that he performs the prayer in his home, citing the statement of Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) and the statement of al-Shafi'i that congregational prayer is a recommended practice. We ask you to kindly assist in issuing a fatwa on this matter to dispel this doubt. May Allah reward you.
A : There is nothing wrong with the imam of the mosque taking a salary from the public treasury; because this is one of the legitimate expenditures for the interests of the Muslims. And there is no valid legal argument for those who dislike praying behind him. It is not permissible to lag behind in congregational prayer on the excuse that some scholars consider congregational prayer a recommended practice; because this is the weaker position, and the correct evidence is to the contrary. Among this is the statement of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Bulugh al-Maram 2:308 , narrated by Ibn Majah
and al-Daraqutni with a sound chain. It was said to Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both): What is the excuse? He said: (Fear or illness). And Muslim narrated in his (Sahih) from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him): . And there are many hadiths in this meaning. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: There is a young man among the committed, whom we consider to be so, and Allah is his accountant, who says: We see the prayer of the imam who receives a government salary to be invalid, and that prayer behind him is not valid . This young man says that he performs the prayer in his home, citing the statement of Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) and the statement of al-Shafi'i that congregational prayer is a recommended practice. We ask you to kindly assist in issuing a fatwa on this matter to dispel this doubt. May Allah reward you.
A : There is nothing wrong with the imam of the mosque taking a salary from the public treasury; because this is one of the legitimate expenditures for the interests of the Muslims. And there is no valid legal argument for those who dislike praying behind him. It is not permissible to lag behind in congregational prayer on the excuse that some scholars consider congregational prayer a recommended practice; because this is the weaker position, and the correct evidence is to the contrary. Among this is the statement of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
Whoever hears the call for prayer and and does not come (to the mosque for prayer), his prayer will not be accepted from him, unless he has a (legitimate) excuse.
من سمع النداء فلم يأت فلا صلاة له إلا من عذرand al-Daraqutni with a sound chain. It was said to Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both): What is the excuse? He said: (Fear or illness). And Muslim narrated in his (Sahih) from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him):
That a blind man said: O Messenger of Allah, I have no guide to lead me to the mosque, so do I have a dispensation to pray in my house? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to him: Do you hear the call to prayer? He said: Yes. He said: Then respond.
أن رجلاً أعمى قال: يا رسول الله: ليس لي قائد يقودني للمسجد، فهل لي من رخصة أن أصلي في بيتي؟ فقال له النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: هل تسمع النداء بالصلاة؟ قال: نعم، قال: فأجب
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.