It is not permissible for a Qur'an reciter to take a wage for his recitation
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The fifth question of Fatwa No. ( 189 ):
Q5: A Qur'an memorizer leads people in prayer or recites for the deceased for a wage that he collects before the recitation. Is that permissible?
A5: Reciting the Qur'an is among the best acts of worship, and the principle in acts of worship is that they be pure for the sake of Allah, with no other intention behind them, whether worldly gain one obtains or prestige one attains; rather, one hopes for Allah and fears His punishment. Allah the Exalted said:[Az-Zumar 39:2-3] [Surat al-Zumar], and He said: [Al-Bayyinah 98:5] [Surat al-Bayyinah]. And in the hadith from 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), he said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: Sahih al-Bukhari 6689 Narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim, so it is not permissible for a Qur'an reciter to take a wage for his recitation that he collects before or after the recitation,
whether this recitation is in prayer or over the deceased; therefore, no scholar has permitted hiring for the recitation of the Qur'an. This does not include the taking of a wage by mosque imams and mu'adhdhins from the Muslim treasury, for it is not for the recitation nor for the prayer itself, but rather it is taken in exchange for his dedicating himself to a collective obligation for the Muslims, leaving his private work. Its equivalent is the taking of a wage by the Caliph of the Muslims from the treasury for his engagement in the obligatory duties of the Islamic Caliphate, leaving his private work from which he earns for himself. 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) used to give from the treasury to the mujahideen and those who had a prior standing in Islam, each according to his precedence and the widespread benefit he provided to the Muslim community. More emphatic than this is that Allah has made a share of the zakah for those who work on collecting it, even if they were rich, for their performance of an Islamic obligation for the community, both rich and poor, and their engagement in this for a period, leaving the earning for themselves. And success is from Allah. And may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q5: A Qur'an memorizer leads people in prayer or recites for the deceased for a wage that he collects before the recitation. Is that permissible?
A5: Reciting the Qur'an is among the best acts of worship, and the principle in acts of worship is that they be pure for the sake of Allah, with no other intention behind them, whether worldly gain one obtains or prestige one attains; rather, one hopes for Allah and fears His punishment. Allah the Exalted said:
So worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion. (3) Unquestionably, for Allah is the pure religion.
فَاعْبُدِ اللَّهَ مُخْلِصًا لَهُ الدِّينَ (2) أَلاَ لِلَّهِ الدِّينُ الْخَالِصُAnd they were not commanded except to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth
وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلا لِيَعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ حُنَفَاءَThe (reward of) deeds, depend upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended. So whoever emigrated for the sake of Allah and His Apostle, then his emigration will be considered to be for Allah and His Apostle, and whoever emigrated for the sake of worldly gain or for a woman to marry, then his emigration will be considered to be for what he emigrated for.
إنما الأعمال بالنيات، وإنما لكل امرئ ما نوى، فمن كانت هجرته إلى الله ورسوله فهجرته إلى الله ورسوله، ومن كانت هجرته إلى دنيا يصيبها أو امرأة ينكحها فهجرته إلى ما هاجر إليهwhether this recitation is in prayer or over the deceased; therefore, no scholar has permitted hiring for the recitation of the Qur'an. This does not include the taking of a wage by mosque imams and mu'adhdhins from the Muslim treasury, for it is not for the recitation nor for the prayer itself, but rather it is taken in exchange for his dedicating himself to a collective obligation for the Muslims, leaving his private work. Its equivalent is the taking of a wage by the Caliph of the Muslims from the treasury for his engagement in the obligatory duties of the Islamic Caliphate, leaving his private work from which he earns for himself. 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) used to give from the treasury to the mujahideen and those who had a prior standing in Islam, each according to his precedence and the widespread benefit he provided to the Muslim community. More emphatic than this is that Allah has made a share of the zakah for those who work on collecting it, even if they were rich, for their performance of an Islamic obligation for the community, both rich and poor, and their engagement in this for a period, leaving the earning for themselves. And success is from Allah. And may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.