Can the Imam’s salary be paid from Zakat?

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.   

Assalāmu ῾alaykum wa Rahmatullāhi Wabarakātuh

An Imam provides a service for which he is entitled to a remuneration according to his employment contract.

Zakat funds have to be disposed of independently and separately to the poor and needy. Accordingly, zakat cannot be used as wages to pay the Imam. The Imam may be assisted with zakat funds if he is a legitimate recipient of zakat. However, he will still be entitled to his remuneration according to his employment contract. Zakat cannot be given to him to offset wages due to him. 

And Allāh Ta῾āla Knows Best

Jibran Kadarkhan

Student Dārul Iftā

Mauritius

Checked and Approved by:

Mufti Ebrahim Desai

 "هي تمليك جزء مال عيّنه الشارع من مسلم فقير غير هاشمي ولا مولاه...[1]

     (الدر المختار :2/258,كتاب الزكاة ,سعيد)  

التصدق علي الإمام الفقير أفضل,و في الشامي: أي من الجاهل الفقير.                                                         [2]

(الدر المختار مع الشامي:2/354,سعيد)      

بحر الرائق:2/240,كوئته))  دفع الزكاة الي من يملك ما دون النصاب أو قدر نصاب غير نام ......... يجوز[3]             

فاروقية ( , 9/532  فتاوى محمودية :( 9/530[4]

                                                                       زمزم( فتاوى دار العلوم زكريا :( 3/200[5]