Question:-
There are some Ulama that are financially independent or rather, wealthy, yet they take salaries from their institutes. Should they be taking salaries in lieu of their services?
What about females (serving Deen) and taking salaries in lieu of their services? Some of them have no expenses as their husbands take care of all their needs. Should they be taking a salary? Weren’t salaries stipulated for those serving Deen so that they needs may be fulfilled?
Answer:-
1. Hadrat Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi Rahimahullah has written that a wealthy Alim should also take a wage and educate the masses. He may then return the funds to the Madrasah if he doesn’t require the funds; but he should take the salary so that he is able to serve the Deen of Allah Ta’ala with dedication.
The Fuqaha have also written that if the Muslim judge is an extremely wealthy person then he too should take a wage. The reasoning is; if the wealthy Muslim judge serves for a period of 10 years without taking a salary and his position is thereafter taken up by a poor judge, then providing a salary to the new judge may be difficult (for those responsible.) This was the in depth understanding of the Fuqaha who were aware of the reality of matters. [Re:- Tuhfatul Ulama Pg. 135 Vol.1]
2. The reasoning provided for a wealthy Alim taking a wage is so that he may be able to dedicate himself to his work. The same reasoning is applicable to a female (that is teaching females or little children) and has no expenses. She, too, may feel that she doesn’t have to dedicate herself since she is offering a voluntary service particularly in this day and age when there are so many temptations, and at every opportunity people want to take vacations. Due to not taking a salary, one may easily extend their vacation, or take a holiday during Madrasah time, regarding it to be acceptable since a salary is not being taken. Similarly, one may become lax in regards to working hours by not being punctual with time. Such negligence results in the students being deprived and not being educated as they ought to be.
3. Yes, your understanding is correct in regards to why a salary is paid to Ulama and those that have dedicated their time to the services of Deen. However, the current day Ulama, such as Hadrat Thanvi Rahimahullah, have stated another reason; which is to achieve dedication from educators (which has been explained above in detail).
ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai
Date:- 24 Rabi-ul-Aakhir 1434 / 29 November 2021
