The Status of a Teacher's and an Imam's Salary

Question

Since the salaries of mosque imams and teachers are fixed, and small as well, people hold that this is remuneration for service (haqq al-khidma). But Zayd, a religious scholar, holds that it is maintenance (nafaqa), not remuneration for service, and that the amount is fixed in order to prevent dispute. Is what he says correct? And is taking this salary haram because it is compensation for religion?

Answer

The highest station, of course, is that teachers and mosque imams perform these services without compensation and that the intention be solely to win the pleasure of Allah the Pure. But since the needs of obligatory maintenance (nafaqa wajiba)

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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