[Q 486] Salary for Leading Salah in Islam

QUESTION:

Is it permissible in Hanafi fiqh for an Imam of a mosque to receive a fixed salary for leading prayers and performing imamah duties?

ANSWER:

In present times, receiving a salary for Imamah (leading Salah), giving Adhan (call to prayer), teaching Qur’an, Hadith, and other Islamic sciences is permissible. However, if someone performs these duties solely for the purpose of earning money, then the rewards which have been mentioned for these works will not be attained by him. But if the main intention is the service of religion, and he only takes the salary so that he can support himself and his family—and if this necessity did not exist, he would do it purely fee sabeelillah (for the sake of Allah)—then by the mercy of Allah Almighty, it is hoped that he will also receive reward.

It is mentioned in Abu Dawood Shareef:

’’عن رافع بن خدیج رضی اللہ عنہ قال : سمعت رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم یقول : العامل علی الصدقۃ بالحق کالغازی فی سبیل اللہ حتی یرجع الی بیتہی‘‘

(Sunan Abu Dawood, vol. 2, p. 59, Lahore edition)

Under this Hadith, Hakim al-Ummah Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan عليه الرحمة states:
“This Hadith proves that if the intention is good, then receiving a salary for religious service does not reduce the reward. Look, those workers of zakat used to be given full wages, yet they were also promised reward. Similarly, a Mujahid receives ghaneemat (spoils of war) as well as reward. All the Khulafa-e-Rashideen, except Sayyiduna Uthman Ghani رضي الله تعالى عنه, received salaries for the Khilafah, but their reward was not reduced. Likewise, those scholars, Imams, or Mu’azzins who take a salary for teaching, giving Adhan, or leading Salah—if their intention is the service of religion, then InshaAllah ‘Azza wa Jall they will definitely be rewarded.”

(Mir’aat al-Manajeeh, vol. 3, p. 18, Zia-ul-Qur’an)

Allama Ibn Abidin Shami عليه الرحمة writes in Radd al-Muhtar regarding the Mu’azzin receiving a wage for Adhan:

’’قد يقال إن كان قصده وجه الله تعالى لكنه بمراعاته للأوقات والاشتغال به يقل اكتسابه عما يكفيه لنفسه وعياله فيأخذ الأجرة لئلا ليمنعه الاكتساب عن إقامة هذه الوظيفة الشريفة ولولا ذلك لم يأخذ أجرا فله الثواب المذكور بل يكون جمع بين عبادتين وهما الأذان والسعي على العيال وإنما الأعمال بالنيات‘‘

(Radd al-Muhtar ma’a Durr al-Mukhtar, vol. 2, p. 74, Quetta edition)

Answered by: Usman Madani (AskMufti Scholar)
Translated answer
Date: 28th September 2025