Teaching In A Masjid And Taking A Salary

The ruling mentioned in our books of Fiqh is that it is Makruh to take any sort of payment/salary for teaching in the masjid and this would be regardless of whether the money comes to the teacher/ustaad directly or via a madressa committee.

In all cases it is best to teach outside the masjid precinct and if teaching is done inside the masjid it would be preferable not to take a wage for it in order to avoid this Makruh act.

There are certain cases whereby taking a payment for teaching in the masjid would not be deemed as being Makruh. This is when there is a dire need for doing so and no alternative is to be found. For example, there is no other place where classes can be held and there is a fear that not having classes would cause impediment to the progress of deen and the religious nurturing of the community would get neglected.

However some other factors will have to be kept in mind when teaching in the Masjid:

1. If teaching children, these children should be of such an age that they comprehend the sanctity of the masjid and they uphold the cleanliness of the place.

2. Children should in no case make noise and play around the masjid.

3. It would not be correct for the Ustaad to shout, scold, reprimand and hit the children if they are being taught inside the masjid.

4. Finally, this teaching in the masjid must in no way affect the habitual acts of worship taking place in the masjid and all teaching activities must stop during the congregational prayer times.

This permission to teach in the masjid whilst receiving remuneration for it should be kept as a secondary measure and constant efforts should be made towards finding or establishing a place of teaching outside the masjid.