Detailed Analysis: Permissibility of Receiving Payment for Quran Recitation and Teaching
Written by: Imran Ayyub LahoriOverview: Debate Over Accepting Payment for Quran Recitation and Teaching
One group of the Noble Companions (ุฑุถู ุงููู ุนููู ) stayed with an Arab tribe during a journey. When they requested hospitality, the tribe refused. Later, when the tribal leader was bitten and did not recover despite several treatments, they approached the Companions for spiritual healing. Due to the earlier refusal, the Companions declined to perform the healing without compensation. Eventually, one Companion recited Surah al-Fatihah for healing in return for some sheep, and the tribal leader was cured. Upon returning, the Prophet ๏ทบ was informed and remarked:
"Who told you that it (Fatihah) is a Ruqyah?" Then he said:
โุงููุชูุณูู ููุง ููุงุถูุฑูุจููุง ููู ู ูุนูููู ู ุณูููู ูุงโ
"Distribute it and include my share as well."
In another narration, when the Companions expressed dislike over receiving compensation and mentioned the matter to the Prophet ๏ทบ, he said:
โุฅูููู ุฃูุญูููู ู ูุง ุฃูุฎูุฐูุชูู ู ุนููููููู ุฃูุฌูุฑูุง ููุชูุงุจู ุงููููููโ
"The most deserving thing for which you may receive a wage is the Book of Allah."
[Bukhari: 5737, 2276 | Muslim: 2201 | Abu Dawood: 3900 | Tirmidhi: 2064 | Ibn Majah: 2156 | Musnad Ahmad: 10/3]Opinions Opposing Payment for Teaching Quran
โ Hadith of Ubayy ibn Ka'b (ุฑุถู ุงููู ุนูู):
He narrated:
"I taught a man the Quran, and he gave me a bow as a gift. When I mentioned it to the Prophet ๏ทบ, he said:"
โุฅููู ุฃูุฎูุฐูุชูููุง ุฃูุฎูุฐูุชู ููููุณูุง ู ููู ููุงุฑูโ
"If you take it, you are taking a bow from the Fire."
So I returned it.
[Sahih: As-Silsilah As-Saheehah: 256 | Irwaโ al-Ghaleel: 1493 | Ibn Majah: 2158 | Bayhaqi: 6/125-126]โ Isma'il ibn Ubaydullah's Statement:
When Abdul Malik bin Marwan offered him a wage to teach his child, Isma'il refused, citing the Hadith:
โู ููู ุฃูุฎูุฐู ุนูููู ุชูุนููููู ู ุงููููุฑูุขูู ููููุณูุง ูููููุฏููู ุงูููููู ููููุณูุง ู ููู ููุงุฑู ููููู ู ุงููููููุงู ูุฉูโ
"Whoever receives a bow for teaching the Quran, Allah will place a bow of Fire around his neck on the Day of Judgement."
[As-Silsilah As-Saheehah: 256 | Bayhaqi: 6/126 | Tarikh Dimashq: 2/427]โ Hadith of Imran bin Husain (ุฑุถู ุงููู ุนูู):
The Prophet ๏ทบ said:
โWhoever recites the Quran should ask Allah through it. Soon, there will come people who will recite the Quran and ask people through itโ
[Sahih: As-Silsilah As-Saheehah: 257 | Tirmidhi: 4/55 | Musnad Ahmad: 4/432]โ Hadith of Abu Saโeed al-Khudri (ุฑุถู ุงููู ุนูู):
The Prophet ๏ทบ said:
โLearn the Quran and ask Allah for Jannah through it, before a people emerge who will seek worldly gains through it.โ
[Sahih: As-Silsilah As-Saheehah: 258 | Qiyam al-Layl by Ibn Nasr, p. 74]โ Hadith of Jabir (ุฑุถู ุงููู ุนูู):
The Prophet ๏ทบ visited us while we were reading the Quran. He said:
"Recite! It is all good. Soon, there will come people who will recite it like an arrow is straightened, seeking the world hastily instead of the Hereafter."
[Sahih: As-Silsilah As-Saheehah: 259 | Abu Dawood: 1/132]โ Hadith of Abd al-Rahman ibn Shibl (ุฑุถู ุงููู ุนูู):
The Prophet ๏ทบ said:
"Recite the Quran, but do not consume (wealth) in return for it, nor seek excessive wealth, nor be indifferent to it, nor betray it."
[Sahih: As-Silsilah As-Saheehah: 260 | Sharh Maโani al-Athar: 2/10 | Musnad Ahmad: 3/428]Position of the Hanafi Scholars:
โ Both the one giving and taking payment for teaching Quran are sinful.
[Radd al-Muhtar: 5/35]โ It is not permissible to take payment for Adhan, Hajj, Imamah, or Quran teaching.
[Al-Hidayah: 2/303]They argue that teaching religious rulings is obligatory, like prayer and fasting, and its reward should only be sought from Allah. However, they accept the exception of taking wages for Ruqyah (spiritual healing) due to explicit evidence.
[Ar-Rawdah an-Nadiyyah: 2/279 | Nayl al-Awtar: 5/324]Opinions Supporting Payment for Teaching Quran
โ Clear Hadith Evidence:
The Prophet ๏ทบ said:
โThe most deserving thing for which you can take payment is the Book of Allah.โ
[Bukhari: 5737]โ Quran as Mahr (Dowry):
The Prophet ๏ทบ told a man:
โI marry her to you for what you know of the Quran.โ
This indicates Quran knowledge was accepted in place of wealth.
[Bukhari: 4642 | Nasaโi: 3287 | Tirmidhi: 1032 | Abu Dawood: 1806]โ Interpretation by the Majority of Scholars:
They state the Hadith of Ubayy ibn Ka'b (ุฑุถู ุงููู ุนูู) may reflect the Prophet ๏ทบ disapproving the acceptance of compensation due to his sincerity, not issuing a general prohibition.
[Nayl al-Awtar: 5/324]โ Sheikh al-Albaniโs View:
He admits the Hadith about the bow is weak due to:
โ Interruption in the chain
โก Unknown narrators
โข Discrepancy in narration
He concludes:
"In short, this chain is weak."
However, supporting narrations from 'Ubadah ibn Samit and Abu Darda raise it to an acceptable level.
[Irwa al-Ghaleel: 1493]Opinions of Classical Scholars in Favor of Permissibility:
- Imam Malik (ุฑุญู
ู ุงููู): Derived permissibility from the Mahr Hadith
[Fath al-Bari: 9/121] - Ibn Hazm (ุฑุญู
ู ุงููู):
"None of the narrations prohibiting payment for Quran teaching are authentic."
[Al-Muhalla: 9/15] - Al-Qurtubi (ุฑุญู
ู ุงููู):
Criticizes analogies made by Hanafis with Salah & Sawm. Teaching Quran is transitive (benefits others), unlike prayers.
[Tafsir al-Qurtubi: 1/335]- Al-Sha'bi, al-Hakam ibn Atiyyah, Hasan al-Basri, Ata, Abu Qilabah, Ibn al-Mundhir, Imam al-San'ani, Abd al-Mun'im Ibrahim all affirmed permissibility.
[References within Nayl al-Awtar, Sabil as-Salam, Qafu al-Athar]Qurโanic Evidence Supporting Permissibility (When Properly Understood):
โ "Do not sell My verses for a small price."
[Al-Baqarah: 41]โก "Indeed, those who conceal what Allah has revealed... and exchange it for a small price..."
[Al-Baqarah: 174]These verses condemn concealing the message, not taking wages for open teaching.
Rational and Practical Considerations:
โ Many prohibitive narrations are weak, and others are context-specific.
โ Authenticated Hadiths affirm permissibility.
โ If teaching Quran is unpaid, how will teachers survive? They may:
- Leave teaching for business
- Move to places with payment
โ In non-Muslim countries, if the teacher is financially independent and there's no opposition, it's ideal to teach without compensation.
โ In an Islamic state, it's the government's duty to pay teachers.
โ In non-Islamic contexts, it is desirable to avoid asking for payment, but permissibility remains.
โ If the teacher is financially constrained, then fair compensation is not only allowed but an obligation upon the community.
Conclusion: The Preferred Opinion (ุงูุฑุงุฌุญ)
โ Receiving payment for teaching the Quran is permissible, provided it is done with sincerity and without commercialization.
โ It aligns with Hadith evidence, logic, and the responsibilities of the Ummah.
