Accepting a gift for taraweeh

Question

Two baligh boys aged 15 and 14 are doing hifz at a Madrassah in another locality. As a part of their training they are required to lead the taraweeh prayers during Ramadan at their local masjid. The boys follow the Hanafi school. Whereas the majority of others follow the Shafi school. On the 27th night the boys each received R150 gift. These gifts were given to all hufaaz and students that lead the taraweeh prayers. I have read that this is not permissible, even as a gift. Should the money be given away, if so to whom?

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best · Accepted Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh. The Quran is one of the greatest bounties of Allah Ta῾ālā given to man. When a person has the ability to recite the Quran then he should have the highest level of gratitude to Allah Ta῾ālā for bestowing him with such a favour. The purpose of reciting the Quran is to gain reward by means of which an individual could eventually gain the proximity of Allah Ta῾ālā. This should be the sole motivating factor for recitation of the Quran and any other worship done by man. This is known as sincerity of intention. Taraweeh Salah is a great act of worship and should be performed solely for the pleasure of Allah. One should not take any remuneration for performing taraweeh. If the person performing taraweeh is made an Imam of the masjid for any Salah, he could be remunerated for that.[1] And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best Student Darul Iftaa Checked and Approved by, Mufti Ebrahim Desai. www.daruliftaa.net [1] الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين (رد المحتار) - (6 / 55) [مَطْلَبٌ فِي الِاسْتِئْجَارِ عَلَى الطَّاعَاتِ] 1 ِ (قَوْلُهُ وَلَا لِأَجْلِ الطَّاعَاتِ) الْأَصْلُ أَنَّ كُلَّ طَاعَةٍ يَخْتَصُّ بِهَا الْمُسْلِمُ لَا يَجُوزُ الِاسْتِئْجَارُ عَلَيْهَا عِنْدَنَا لِقَوْلِهِ - عَلَيْهِ الصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ - «اقْرَءُوا الْقُرْآنَ وَلَا تَأْكُلُوا بِهِ» وَفِي آخِرِ مَا عَهِدَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ - صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - إلَى عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ «وَإِنْ اُتُّخِذْتَ مُؤَذِّنًا فَلَا تَأْخُذْ عَلَى الْأَذَانِ أَجْرًا» وَلِأَنَّ الْقُرْبَةَ مَتَى حَصَلَتْ وَقَعَتْ عَلَى الْعَامِلِ وَلِهَذَا تَتَعَيَّنُ أَهْلِيَّتُهُ، فَلَا يَجُوزُ لَهُ أَخْذُ الْأُجْرَةِ مِنْ غَيْرِهِ كَمَا فِي الصَّوْمِ وَالصَّلَاةِ هِدَايَةٌ. الهداية في شرح بداية المبتدي - (3 / 238) قال: "ولا الاستئجار على الأذان والحج، وكذا الإمامة وتعليم القرآن والفقه" والأصل أن كل طاعة يختص بها المسلم لا يجوز الاستئجار عليه عندنا درر الحكام شرح غرر الأحكام - (2 / 233) (وَلَمْ تَصِحَّ الْإِجَارَةُ لِلْأَذَانِ وَالْإِمَامَةِ وَالْحَجِّ وَتَعْلِيمِ الْقُرْآنِ وَالْفِقْهِ وَالْغِنَاءِ وَالْمَلَاهِي وَالنَّوْحِ) محمودية 17/64 رحيمية 6/234

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