Taking a pay for reciting Qur’an in the house of people

Question:

Is it permissible to take a pay for reciting Qur’an in the house of people?

Answer:

Reciting Qur’an is an Ibaadah. According to the principle, a person does not have the right to claim anything for an Ibaadah. According to one Hadith, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) prohibited to use Qur’an as a means of livelihood. Therefore, it is not allowed to take a pay for reciting Qur’an in the house of people. The person who gives it will also be guilty by Allah Ta’ala. As for teaching Qur’an-e-Kareem, it is permissible to employ a person and give him a salary in order to assume this responsibility because the teaching of Qur’an is the basic of Deen. Thus, it is a necessity. Nowadays, very few people will be willing to do it voluntarily for a long term. If we will wait for volunteers, our children will remain without knowing Qur’an. So, due to this necessity, the 'Ulama have made a concession regarding the teaching of the Qur’an. Long ago, those who were engaged in the work of Deen, were receiving stipends from the Bait-ul-Maal, which existed in the Islamic State. Now, this is inexistent. However, the work must continue. So, now it is the responsibility of every individual who is benefitting from this service. Likewise, there is possibility that this assistance be guaranteed in the form of salary from a society, organisation or institution. That is, the work that the Bait-ul-Maal was doing before, must now be done individually or collectively.

Similarly, it is permissible to employ a person to teach Deen, to do Imamat or to give Azaan because these things will be neglected if there will be no remuneration. However, it is not permissible to pay for the recitation of Qur’an.

[English version of "Prend casse pou lire Qour'aan dans la caze dimoune" – Al Jamiat – Vol.3 No.2]