What is the ruling on an imam appointing someone else to lead the prayers occasionally?
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The questioner : An imam of a mosque lives far from the mosque and appoints someone better than himself. Does he sin if he is absent and leaves the mosque at times?
The Shaykh : You mean an imam who does not perform the imamah and appoints someone else?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : It is not permissible for him to do that, and what he takes of his salary is forbidden for him.
The questioner : Is a strong excuse required to permit the absence, or not?
The Shaykh : If it is for an excuse, there is no harm. For example, if a person is ill and confined to bed for a month or two, he owes nothing. But he must appoint someone to perform what is necessary. As for being absent here and there without an excuse and saying, "I appointed someone else who reads and knows more than me," that is forbidden for him. If he is unable to perform the five daily prayers, let him submit his resignation to the responsible authorities so that someone else can take over the mosque.
The questioner : And the money is forbidden, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : Forbidden, yes, because he takes it in exchange for work, and the compensation must have something to correspond to it.
The Shaykh : You mean an imam who does not perform the imamah and appoints someone else?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : It is not permissible for him to do that, and what he takes of his salary is forbidden for him.
The questioner : Is a strong excuse required to permit the absence, or not?
The Shaykh : If it is for an excuse, there is no harm. For example, if a person is ill and confined to bed for a month or two, he owes nothing. But he must appoint someone to perform what is necessary. As for being absent here and there without an excuse and saying, "I appointed someone else who reads and knows more than me," that is forbidden for him. If he is unable to perform the five daily prayers, let him submit his resignation to the responsible authorities so that someone else can take over the mosque.
The questioner : And the money is forbidden, O Shaykh?
The Shaykh : Forbidden, yes, because he takes it in exchange for work, and the compensation must have something to correspond to it.