The Ruling on Taking a Fixed Sum for Leading the Prayer and Calling the Adhan

Question:
This is a questioner, O Shaykh Salih, who says: What is the ruling on delegating the imam and the adhan, and what happens when the imam appoints a person to pray with the mosque congregation on his behalf and gives him a fixed amount for a month?

Answer:
If this is due to laziness, negligence, and indifference to the responsibility, then it is not permissible. He should leave the mosque to someone else and not take on a duty in his charge that he does not perform. The role of imam and adhan is a duty and a trust, so he must not be negligent in it. Either he performs it as required, or he leaves it to someone else. However, if an unexpected circumstance arises that requires his absence, there is no harm in him appointing someone he trusts to lead the prayer and call the adhan. There is no harm in unexpected circumstances. But if this is due to laziness, and he takes the salary and gives some of it to the deputy and eats some of it himself, then it is not permissible. This is an invalid investment.

The presenter:
May Allah reward you,