Taking a whole year’s salary in one lump sum

Question

Question: A man who is the imam of a Friday (jami‘) mosque does not take a monthly salary; he receives the money once a year, in blessed Ramadan, on the Night of Decree (Laylat al-Qadr), in a lump sum — two hundred and twenty-five a year — as recompense for this service under the name of “offering”. If people wish to give somewhat less than he desires, he does not take it; and when they give with an increase, he accepts it. Yet he makes it widely known that he performs the service without recompense.

Answer

Just as an arrangement with a monthly salary is correct, so too is an arrangement for a fixed amount in one lump sum for the whole year, even if it is called an “offering.” This does no harm to the imamate; but to believe and make it widely known that this service of imamate is without recompense is wrong.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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