Assalamualaikum Warahmatullah
Every year we invite a hafiz to lead taraveeh prayer at our masjid in the month of Ramadhan. This hafiz also leads regular prayer in absence of appointed imam during that period. At the end of the month after Quran is completed in taraveeh, we collect funds to compensate the hafiz for his services. We don’t have any specific figure in mind but whatever is collected at the end of month, we give that amount to the hafiz. The management of the mosque also takes care of the hafiz’s travel arrangements and lodging.
Is it Islamically ok to voluntarily compensate hafiz for his services at the end of taraveeh? Is it ok for the hafiz to receive compensation for his service?
JazakAllah
الجواب وباللہ التوفیق
Assalamualaikum Warahmatullah
At the end of taraveeh, if the compensation is given for the service of reciting Quran or if the hafiz leads taraveeh in hopes of getting compensation or accepts the compensation as payment of reciting Quran, then giving and accepting of such compensation is considered impermissible. If however, this compensation is given as a gift to please the hafiz, and the hafiz accepts it as a gift as well, then it is considered permissible.
Note: An important point to remember is, giving such a gift and appeasing the hafiz should not be considered as mandatory. Similarly such methods should not be used to raise funds for the gift which are usually utilized for generating donations. For example:
- Asking the people reading salah in the mosque for donation to compensate the hafiz, then compensating this hafiz just like the imam and moaddin is compensated for their services
- Fixing a particular value or amount for the gift/money etc.
Instead the individuals can do whatever they can by themselves to please the hafiz. If the methods for compensation are utilized which are usually used for paying someone for their services, then in that situation such transactions are considered impermissible.
فقط واللہ اعلم