The ruling on the absence of the regular imam due to his travel to visit his parents

Question:
A questioner says that he is the imam of a mosque and that he is keen to attend to the mosque. Sometimes he may travel to visit his parents for three days or more, or perhaps for a week or two. When he is absent from the mosque, one of the brothers prays on his behalf. When he returns, he deducts the value of these days or prayers from the mosque stipend paid to him and gives it to the one who prayed on his behalf. What is the ruling on this?

Answer:
There is nothing wrong with this if his travel is for the sake of being dutiful to his parents and visiting them, for this is a legitimate excuse. However, he should appoint someone to lead the prayer who is sufficient for the task. If he appoints someone who is sufficient, there is nothing wrong with it, and he is traveling for a legitimate purpose that is required. And it is permissible for him to give the substitute some of the stipend. Yes.