Feeding the imam from usury (riba)

Question

In Zayd’s mosque there is an imam who is very God-fearing and abstinent, and he eats in the neighbourhood at the homes of those who pay interest (riba). Is his eating this way permissible or not? And is prayer behind him valid or not?

Answer

It is the responsibility of the people of the neighbourhood to feed the imam from lawful (halal) earnings, or to give him from lawful earnings such a salary that he can arrange his own food himself. Taking interest (riba) is haram, and avoiding riba is fard. Let them also repent themselves, and not feed the imam with riba either.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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