Is It Permissible to Pay for Quran Recitation?

Answered by Shaykh Irshaad Sedick

Question

Every day after Fajr, the imam of the masjid comes to our house and recites the Quran. My father gives him a certain amount of money in exchange for that. Is this permissible?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate. May Allah guide us to that which pleases Him, forgive us for our shortcomings, and alleviate our difficulties, Amin.

Giving and receiving payment for the recitation of the Quran is permissible, and Allah knows best.

Fatiha for Payment

Some of the companions of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace) came across one of the tribes of the Arabs, and they were not hospitable to them. The chief of that tribe was bitten by a snake [or stung by a scorpion]. 

They said, (to the Companions of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace)), “Have you got any medicine with you or anybody who can treat with Ruqya?” The Prophet’s Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) said, “You refuse to entertain us, so we will not treat [your chief] unless you pay us for it.” 

So they agreed to pay them a flock of sheep. One of the Companions started reciting Sura Al-Fatiha, gathering his saliva and spitting it [at the snake-bite]. The patient got better, and his people presented the sheep to them, but they said, “We will not take it unless we ask the Prophet [whether it is lawful].” 

When they asked him, he smiled and said, “How do you know that Surat-al-Fatiha is a Ruqya? Take it [flock of sheep] and assign a share for me.” (Bukhari)

I pray this is of benefit.

[Shaykh] Irshaad Sedick

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Irshaad Sedick was raised in South Africa in a traditional Muslim family. He graduated from Dar al-Ulum al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah in Strand, Western Cape, under the guidance of the late world-renowned scholar, Shaykh Taha Karaan. 

Shaykh Irshaad received Ijaza from many luminaries of the Islamic world, including Shaykh Taha Karaan, Mawlana Yusuf Karaan, and Mawlana Abdul Hafeez Makki, among others.

He is the author of the text “The Musnad of Ahmad ibn Hanbal: A Hujjah or not?” He has served as the Director of the Discover Islam Centre and Al Jeem Foundation. For the last five years till present, he has served as the Khatib of Masjid Ar-Rashideen, Mowbray, Cape Town.

Shaykh Irshaad has thirteen years of teaching experience at some of the leading Islamic institutes in Cape Town). He is currently building an Islamic online learning and media platform called ‘Isnad Academy’ and pursuing his Master’s degree in the study of Islam at the University of Johannesburg. He has a keen interest in healthy living and fitness.