Islamic Ruling on Receiving Compensation for Teaching, Qur’an, Adhan, and Imamate
Derived from: Fatawa Shaykh al-Hadith Mubarakpuri, Volume 1, Page 35
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
Shaykh al-Hadith Mubarakpuri رحمه الله explicitly stated that his personal inclination is that receiving payment for religious duties such as:
➤ Teaching Islam
➤ Reciting or teaching the Qur’an
➤ Giving the Adhan (call to prayer)
➤ Leading the prayer as Imam
is not preferred.
Although he does not declare it Haram, his nature dislikes it, as he regards it akin to “selling knowledge.”
He cites the Hadith:
"إِنَّ أَحَقَّ مَا أَخَذْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا كِتَابُ اللَّهِ"
“Indeed, the most rightful thing for which you take payment is the Book of Allah.”
This Hadith establishes that taking a wage for teaching the Qur’an is permissible.
The generality of this Hadith includes not only Qur’an education, but also:
➤ Leading Salah (Imamate)
➤ Giving the Adhan
➤ Other religious services
This narration is considered stronger and more authentic than the narrations and reports which discourage taking payment for religious duties.
Although acts such as:
➤ Teaching Qur’an
➤ Leading prayers
➤ Giving the Adhan
➤ Reciting during Taraweeh
are pure acts of worship, when they become:
➤ Bound to a specific time,
➤ Linked to a specific location,
➤ Appointed by a specific community or mosque —
Then these acts take the ruling of mubah (permissible acts) in such conditional contexts.
Therefore, under these circumstances, receiving payment becomes permissible.
◈ This issue is explained in detail in Fatawa Naziriya, Vol. 2, Pages 48 and 58.
◈ See also: Makatib Shaykh Rahmani binama Mawlana Amin Asari, Page 50.
ھذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
Derived from: Fatawa Shaykh al-Hadith Mubarakpuri, Volume 1, Page 35
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
✦ Shaykh al-Hadith Mubarakpuri’s Position
◈ Personal Inclination:
Shaykh al-Hadith Mubarakpuri رحمه الله explicitly stated that his personal inclination is that receiving payment for religious duties such as:
➤ Teaching Islam
➤ Reciting or teaching the Qur’an
➤ Giving the Adhan (call to prayer)
➤ Leading the prayer as Imam
is not preferred.
Although he does not declare it Haram, his nature dislikes it, as he regards it akin to “selling knowledge.”
✿ Reason for Not Declaring It Haram
◈ Evidence from Hadith:
He cites the Hadith:
"إِنَّ أَحَقَّ مَا أَخَذْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا كِتَابُ اللَّهِ"
“Indeed, the most rightful thing for which you take payment is the Book of Allah.”
This Hadith establishes that taking a wage for teaching the Qur’an is permissible.
◈ General Scope of the Hadith:
The generality of this Hadith includes not only Qur’an education, but also:
➤ Leading Salah (Imamate)
➤ Giving the Adhan
➤ Other religious services
This narration is considered stronger and more authentic than the narrations and reports which discourage taking payment for religious duties.
✿ Worship Shifting to the Permissible (Mubah) Category
◈ Nature of Worship and Conditions:
Although acts such as:
➤ Teaching Qur’an
➤ Leading prayers
➤ Giving the Adhan
➤ Reciting during Taraweeh
are pure acts of worship, when they become:
➤ Bound to a specific time,
➤ Linked to a specific location,
➤ Appointed by a specific community or mosque —
Then these acts take the ruling of mubah (permissible acts) in such conditional contexts.
Therefore, under these circumstances, receiving payment becomes permissible.
✿ Further Clarification and References
◈ This issue is explained in detail in Fatawa Naziriya, Vol. 2, Pages 48 and 58.
◈ See also: Makatib Shaykh Rahmani binama Mawlana Amin Asari, Page 50.
ھذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
