Sadaqat al-fitr for an imam or religious scholar

Question

If some religious scholar or mosque imam is wealthy, is it permissible for him to take sadaqat al-fitr or not? (2) In the case described, what is the ruling of the Shari‘a regarding the one who takes and the one who gives? And how is it to pray behind such religious scholars and imams who are wealthy? (3) In the above case, the respected scholar and the respected imam, who are wealthy and take sadaqat al-fitr — if someone stops them, (saying)

Answer

(1) It is impermissible. [ar]وصدقة الفطر كالزكاة في المصارف[/ar] “Sadaqat al-fitr is like zakat with respect to its recipients” (al-Bahr). (2) The one who takes it is sinful; the giver’s sadaqat al-fitr has not been discharged and he should pay it again, if at the time of giving he knew that this person is wealthy.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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