The Salary of an Imam Who Goes Out for a Chilla (a Forty-Day Outing with the Jama‘at), Leaving a Substitute

Question

Zayd leads the prayer for a fixed salary. He goes out for forty days with the Tablighi Jamaat and, on leaving, tells one of the followers: “After I go, look after the congregation and lead the congregational prayer.” In reply the follower says: “If I arrive on time I will lead the prayer, otherwise not.” After forty days the imam returns and demands his salary. The followers say… (?) — then in reply he says: “I appointed an imam in my place.

Answer

Since the imam provided a substitute for himself — whether or not he made a monetary arrangement with him — the imam is entitled to the salary, and his salary should be paid to him. So it is in “al-Bahr al-Ra'iq”. Prayer behind him is also valid.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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