Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hazrat Ubadah bin Samit (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that I taught writing and the Holy Qur’an to some students of the school of Suffah. One of them gave me a bow as a gift, so I accepted it saying that this is not wealth; with it, I will shoot arrows at the enemy while striving in the path of Allah. I said that I will definitely go to the service of the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and ask him about this matter. Then I went to the service of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and submitted, “O Messenger of Allah! A person has given me a bow as a gift because I taught him writing and the Holy Qur’an, and it is not wealth; with it, I will strive in the path of Allah.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “If you wish that tomorrow, on the Day of Resurrection, it should be made into a collar of fire and placed around your neck, then accept it.”

Hazrat Abdullah bin Shaqiq (may Allah have mercy on him) says that taking wages for teaching was disliked; indeed, the companions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) used to dislike it and considered it a severe (sin, burden).

Hazrat Ubayy bin Ka'b (may Allah be pleased with him) taught a blind person, and after that, whenever he (the blind person) would come to him, he would feed him. Hazrat Ubayy bin Ka'b (may Allah be pleased with him) says that some doubt arose in my heart regarding this matter, so I asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) about it. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: If he gives you that thing as a gift (wage), then there is no good in it for you, but if it is for your own food and for your family, then there is no harm in accepting it.

Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him) said that the noble Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) disliked taking wages for teaching children writing.