Ruling on Receiving a Salary for Leading Salah (Imāmah)
Source: Fatāwā Rāshidiyyah, p. 296
❖ Question:
Is it permissible for an imam to take a salary for leading salah? A scholar claims that in Ibn Ḥibbān it is mentioned that the Prophet ﷺ prohibited taking wages for imāmah. Is this hadith authentic, and if so, can you provide its chain of transmission?
❖ Answer:
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله، أما بعد!
- According to my understanding, an imam may take a salary for leading prayers.
- This was also, most likely, the position of Ḥāfiẓ ʿAbdullāh Rūprī رحمه الله, or I may have seen it in the fatwā of another Ahl al-Ḥadīth scholar, though I cannot recall exactly.
✿ Reasoning
- Performing salah individually is farḍ upon every Muslim, but leading the salah (imāmah) is not an obligation on any specific person.
- If a person leaves his personal occupation to regularly fulfill the duties of an imam at the request of the congregation, then naturally his livelihood is affected.
- Otherwise, he could simply attend any mosque for salah while continuing his own work.
- Since imāmah requires him to be present for all five daily prayers, it restricts his ability to earn a livelihood.
- Therefore, arranging for his sustenance through a salary is justified, and taking wages for imāmah is not sinful.
✿ Regarding the Claimed Ḥadīth in Ibn Ḥibbān
- The claim that a hadith in Ibn Ḥibbān forbids taking wages for imāmah is unverified.
- I personally searched the relevant sections in Mawārid al-Ẓamʾān ilā Zawāʾid Ibn Ḥibbān but did not find such a narration.
- If the scholar who mentioned it provides the exact reference (chapter, section), I will re-check and provide further clarification.
Conclusion
- It is permissible for an imam to receive a salary for leading prayers, as it compensates for the time and effort taken away from his personal livelihood.
- The alleged prohibition from Ibn Ḥibbān has not been found, and thus cannot be relied upon without a proper reference.
