I request clarification of the ruling in the Shari'ah regarding receiving a wage in exchange for leading people in prayer, the adhan, the obligatory prayers, teaching people the Qur'an, and other matters concerning the mosque.
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : I request clarification of the ruling in your view, O honorable Shaykh, regarding receiving a wage in exchange for leading people in prayer as an imam, the adhan for the obligatory prayers, teaching people the Qur'an, and other matters concerning the mosque, such as cleaning, cleaning tasks, and the like, with an explanation of the correct opinion based on the evidence from the Shari'ah. May Allah reward you with good?
The Shaykh : Yes. As for taking a wage for cleaning the mosque and teaching the Qur'an, there is nothing wrong with it, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih al-Bukhari 5737 And because cleaning the mosque is among the deeds that can be done as an act of worship or not. If a person takes a wage for it, he has taken his reward in this world, but he will not have a reward in the Hereafter. This is with regard to what is taken as a wage, meaning when a lease contract is made for it. However, if what he takes is from the public treasury, meaning from the government, then there is nothing wrong with it, and his reward in the Hereafter is according to his intention.
As for the adhan and leading the prayer, if the work is done under a lease contract, then this contract is not lawful and is not permissible, because the adhan and leading the prayer are not done except as an act of worship, and whatever is not done except as an act of worship, it is not permissible to take a wage for it. Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked about a man who said to a group who requested him to lead them in prayer in Ramadan, "I will not lead you in prayer except for so much and so much." Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "We seek refuge in Allah, and who will pray behind this man!"
As for what he takes from the public treasury, meaning from the government, there is nothing wrong with it and no blame on him, because it is not from the category of a lease contract, but rather from the category of a reward for one who performs a public service that benefits the Muslims. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you. This listener, Muhammad Muhammad al-Masri, who works in Iraq, says that he...
The Shaykh : Yes. As for taking a wage for cleaning the mosque and teaching the Qur'an, there is nothing wrong with it, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
You are most entitled to take wages for doing a Ruqya with Allah's Book.
إن أحق ما أخذتم عليه أجراً كتاب اللهAs for the adhan and leading the prayer, if the work is done under a lease contract, then this contract is not lawful and is not permissible, because the adhan and leading the prayer are not done except as an act of worship, and whatever is not done except as an act of worship, it is not permissible to take a wage for it. Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked about a man who said to a group who requested him to lead them in prayer in Ramadan, "I will not lead you in prayer except for so much and so much." Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "We seek refuge in Allah, and who will pray behind this man!"
As for what he takes from the public treasury, meaning from the government, there is nothing wrong with it and no blame on him, because it is not from the category of a lease contract, but rather from the category of a reward for one who performs a public service that benefits the Muslims. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you. This listener, Muhammad Muhammad al-Masri, who works in Iraq, says that he...