Giving zakat to the imam

Question

If the residents of a neighbourhood jointly give zakat and sadaqat al-fitr to the unsalaried imams of the neighbourhood with the intention that they lead the prayer, will the zakat and sadaqat al-fitr be discharged in this case or not?

Answer

This is a compensation (mu‘awada) for leading the prayer; by it neither the zakat nor the sadaqat al-fitr will be discharged.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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