The Imamate of One Who Takes the Mosque's Money as His Salary

Question

The imam's salary was set as follows: “Take the rent from the mosque's shops as your salary.” Can he, without [the permission of] the people of the locality or without [the permission of] those people, take the money that people left at a wedding — this amana (trust)? If he takes it, can prayer behind this imam be valid, given that he has committed a breach of the trust?

Answer

The imam has no right to keep money that was given for the mosque. He may collect his salary. But if, beyond this, he commits a breach of the mosque's trust, his imamate will be makruh.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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