Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Salam

My family go to a lady in the neighbourhood, who teaches the quran. The thing is that she asks for £20 for each child and only teaches 4 days a week. Is it Islamic for her to take money? Will she get rewarded for passing on the message of Islam through money. Althought there are Muslims who teach the Quran for free knowing that they are widening the message os the Prophet Muhammad(PBUH) and Allah(SAW).

Thank you, Allah Hafiz

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Answer:

Take Money for teaching Quran

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Beloved Sister in Islam, the question has two connotations: one is permissible, and the other is absolutely discouraged in Islam.

1. One is for an individual or an institution to teach someone the art of reading or reciting the Quran; it is permissible in Islam for one to take a nominal amount as fees for their services of teaching someone the art or knowledge of reading or reciting the Quran.
2. One is for an individual to recite the Quran or to invite or guide another to the light of the Quran and Islam; taking a monetary or other worldly reward for this service would be absolutely discouraged in Islam.

Your Question: My family go to a lady in the neighbourhood, who teaches the quran. The thing is that she asks for £20 for each child and only teaches 4 days a week. Is it Islamic for her to take money? Will she get rewarded for passing on the message of Islam through money.

There is no harm if the sister in the neighborhood charges a nominal fee for teaching the children how to recite the Quran; although of course, if she taught it for free, she would earn a bigger reward from her Lord Most Gracious. But if someone makes a living by teaching others the art of how to recite the Quran, there is absolutely no harm in such earnings and if Allah Wills and Pleases, they will also have their due reward in His Majestic Presence in the Hereafter.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 6.545 Narrated by Uthman

The Prophet said, "The best among you (Muslims) are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it."

What is absolutely discouraged in Islam is that an individual is called upon to recite the Quran, or one invites another to the Light of the Quran, and that person demands money or a material reward for its recitation!

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 2216 Narrated by Imran ibn Husayn

When Imran came upon a story-teller who was reciting the Qur'an and then asking for payment he first uttered the words, "We belong to Allah and to Him do we return" and then told that he had heard Allah's Messenger (saws) say, "When anyone recites the Qur'an, let him ask a reward for it from Allah, for people will arise who will recite the Qur'an and ask a reward for it from men."

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 2210 Narrated by Abidah al-Mulayki

Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "Do not make the Qur'an a pillow, but recite it as it deserves to be recited during the night and the day. Recite it aloud, chant it, and consider its contents, perhaps you may prosper; but do not seek to obtain reward for it in this world, for it provides rewards."

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother and sincere well wisher in Islam,

Burhan