What is the ruling on taking a wage for religious positions?

The Shaykh : However, if there is a type of money given to those who perform certain religious duties, as is the current custom, from the state or from some of the wealthy and rich—and how few they are in this time—who feel that they should extend a hand of help and assistance to some of the poor, or even to the strong who have devoted themselves to serving Islam through some work in service of Islam, the state gives them money. First, it is not permissible for the state to call this a wage, and it is not permissible for those receiving this thing to take it as a wage, but rather they should take it in another sense. For example, as a gift, a reward, or a grant, as the early generations did when Islam was strong and jihad in the path of Allah was established and widespread, and the spoils of war filled the state’s treasuries. The state distributed grants to people, even to those who were not employees of the state. This is the way out for one who is an imam, a mu'adhdhin, a khatib, or a teacher in schools whose knowledge is religious and legal knowledge. It is not permissible for him to take a wage for it, so he must take it under a meaning other than wage, due to the decisive evidence we mentioned that obligates every Muslim to have his worship pure for the face of Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He). But the truth, and I say the truth, is that such a matter requires a very strong, believing soul, meaning that there is no difference to this believing soul... whether he performs his religious duty, whatever the knowledge may be, seeking the face of Allah in truth, whether he is given money or not; because he only works for the face of Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He). And with this, I conclude my answer to your question, and the addition I made to remove the difficulty some people may find in their souls, which others may not be aware of, causing them to fall into the sin of taking money as a wage for worship for which it is not permissible for them to take a wage.
If Professor Abu Yusuf has something now?

The questioner : I was asking a question about the professors...

The Shaykh : Here is the answer you were looking for. Do you deny the people of revelation?

The questioner : Thank you.
[Another session]

The Shaykh : Where is the imam of the mosque?

The questioner: He is present.

The Shaykh : I know he is present and not missing, but I want him now.