Leading the Eid Prayer for a Fee

Question

In some areas it is the custom that on the day of Eid an imam is appointed specifically to lead the Eid prayer alone. Moreover, some imams fix their fee in advance, for example: “If you give twenty rupees, I will lead the Eid prayer”; and some imams do not fix a fee, but some of the followers (muqtadis), according to their means, present the imam with some gift. If the followers do not give money, the imam becomes displeased.

Answer

Taking a fee for imamate in this way is impermissible. The Eid handshake and embrace, as it is current in some places, is a bid'a (innovation in religion) and is prohibited. [ar]يكره إن استأجروا رجلاً يؤمهم[/ar] “It is disliked (makruh) if they hire a man to lead them in prayer” (“Ma Thabata bi-l-Sunna”, p. 94).

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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