Permissibility of Taking Remuneration for Religious Teaching and Instruction

To: Mr. Zia ul Haq, New Town Rawalpindi

Wa Alaikum Assalam wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh,


You have sent a pamphlet titled "Deendari aur Dukandari" written by an unknown and unidentified person. The pamphlet is thirty-two (32) pages long. For a detailed response to this pamphlet, please refer to the book "Deeni Umoor par Ujrat ka Juwaz" by the respected Maulana Dr. Abu Jabir Abdullah Damanvi Hafizahullah. Total pages of the book: 80.

Published by: Maktaba Darur Rahmaniyah, Jamia Masjid Rahmaniyah, Near Bohra Peer, Karachi.

In brief, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

"The most deserving thing for which you take payment is the Book of Allah."

[Sahih Bukhari: 5737]


Imam Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) also mentioned this Hadith in the Book of Ijarah, in the chapter on what is given for Ruqyah with Al-Fatihah, before Hadith 2276. In explaining this Hadith, Hafiz Ibn Hajar writes:

"The majority have taken this as evidence for the permissibility of taking a fee for teaching the Quran."

[Fath al-Bari, Vol. 4, p. 453]


Here are a few narrations for your reference:
  1. Hakam bin Utaibah (Tabi'i Saghir) (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
    "I have not heard any jurist considering it disliked."
    [Musnad Ali bin Al-Ja'd: 1105, and its chain is authentic]
  2. Muawiyah bin Qurrah (may Allah have mercy on him) (Tabi'i) said:
    "I hope that there will be good in it for him."
    [Musnad Ali bin Al-Ja'd: 1104, and its chain is authentic]
  3. Abu Qilabah (may Allah have mercy on him) (Tabi'i) did not see any harm in the remuneration (salary) of a teacher.
    [See Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Vol. 6, p. 220, Hadith 20824, and its chain is authentic]
  4. Tawoos (may Allah have mercy on him) (Tabi'i) also considered it permissible.
    [Ibn Abi Shaybah, also Hadith 20825, and its chain is authentic]
  5. The saying of Muhammad bin Sirin (may Allah have mercy on him) (Tabi'i) also proves its permissibility.
    [Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Vol. 6, p. 223, Hadith 20835, and its chain is authentic]
  6. Ibrahim al-Nakha'i (may Allah have mercy on him) (Tabi'i Saghir) said:
    "They (the earlier people, Salaf al-Salihin) considered the teacher's wage disliked (Karahat al-Tanzih)."
    [Musnad Ali bin Al-Ja'd: 1106, and its chain is strong]
Commenting on this, Imam Shu'bah bin Al-Hajjaj (may Allah have mercy on him) narrates from Imam Abu Al-Sha'sha Jabir bin Yazid (Tabi'i) that: "It is better and preferable that no remuneration is taken for teaching and instruction. However, if someone takes a fee, it is permissible."

Note (1):


Considering all the narrations, in the statement of Ibrahim al-Nakha'i (may Allah have mercy on him) "they considered it disliked," the dislike refers to Karahat al-Tanzih (mild dislike), and in the statement of Hakam bin Utaibah (may Allah have mercy on him) "any jurist considering it disliked," the dislike refers to Karahat al-Tahrim (strong dislike). And Allah knows best!

Note (2):

Some narrations with slight variations are mentioned in Sahih Bukhari (before Hadith 2276). Those who deny the permissibility of taking fees for teaching the Quran rely on some verses and narrations related to two matters:
  1. Remuneration for preaching (i.e., taking a fee for obligatory preaching)
    ﴿لَا أَسْئَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا﴾
    (I do not ask you for any payment for it) and ﴿وَلَا تَشْتَرُوا بِآيَاتِي ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا﴾ (Do not sell My verses for a small price). Refer to "Deeni Umoor par Ujrat ka Juwaz," p. 76.
  2. Remuneration for recitation of the Quran (i.e., taking a fee for reciting the Quran in Taraweeh prayer)
    The Hadith "Recite the Quran but do not eat through it" and others have the same meaning and context. Refer to Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah [Vol. 2, p. 400, Chapter on a person who leads people in Ramadan and is given something, Hadith 7742].
 
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