From when and which perspective did Imam and Mu'addhin of Masjid start to get paid?
The practice of paying the Imam and Mu'addhin of a mosque has evolved over time. In the early days of Islam, the Mu'addhin, who calls the adhan (the call to prayer), was not compensated for his role. This is highlighted in a narration from Sunan al-Tirmidhi, which states: One of the last instructions the Messenger of Allah gave me was to appoint a muezzin who should not take any payment for calling the adhan.
Sunan al-Tirmidhi 2:61 This indicates the early emphasis on volunteerism and the spiritual nature of the call to prayer.
However, later interpretations and practices changed, recognizing the need for compensation for such important roles in the community. In this context, a narration from Al-Kafi illustrates how the proper treatment of workers, including fixing their wages, was emphasized. It recounts a situation where Imam al-Ridha (peace be upon him) reprimanded those who employed individuals without fixing their wages, stating: I have forbidden them several times from allowing anyone to work with them without fixing his wage. Know that no one works for you without a fixed wage, after which you add three times more to that wage, lest he think you have lessened his pay. And if you fix the wage and then pay it, he praises your loyalty. If you increase it by even a little, he recognizes it and sees that you have been generous.
Al-Kafi 2:1139
This shift towards paying the Imam and Mu'addhin reflects a broader understanding of the value of religious leadership and community service, moving from a purely volunteer model to one that recognizes the necessity of compensating those who fulfill these vital roles within the Muslim community.
Sources
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Sunan al-Tirmidhi 2:61
Sunan al-Tirmidhi · Book 2, Hadith 61 · Narrated by Uthman
One of the last instructions the Messenger of Allah gave me was to appoint a muezzin who should not take any payment for calling the adhan.
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Al-Kafi 2:1139
Al-Kafi · Book 2, Hadith 1139 · Narrated by Abu Abdullah (peace be upon him)
I was with Imam al-Ridha (peace be upon him) attending to a matter, and I wanted to return home. He told me, "Stay with me." I spent the night with him. We went to his house accompanied by Mutaib. He looked at his young servants working with mud, caring for animals and the like. There was among them a black man who was not one of them. He asked, "Who is this man with you?" They said, "He assists us and we give him some reward." He said, "You have not fixed his wage." They replied, "No, he is satisfied with whatever we give him." He then turned to them and struck them with a whip and was greatly angry. I asked, "May I be your ransom, why do you expose yourself to such a thing?" He said, "I have forbidden them several times from allowing anyone to work with them without fixing his wage. Know that no one works for you without a fixed wage, after which you add three times more to that wage, lest he think you have lessened his pay. And if you fix the wage and then pay it, he praises your loyalty. If you increase it by even a little, he recognizes it and sees that you have been generous."
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