Ruling for the Imam of a Mosque on making someone his substitute during Hajj vacations and receiving salary for those days

Darulifta Ahlesunnat

(Dawateislami)

Question

    What do the scholars of Islam and Muftis of the blessed Shari’ah guide regarding the matter that if the Mu’azzin or Imam of a Masjid takes more leaves than the usually allotted time due to having the privilege of Hajj or ‘Umrah, should those extra days be deducted in this case or not? Moreover, if he makes some   person who is capable for this duty according to sharia point of view ,his substitute for the said period and that person fulfils his duties of Imam(leading Salah prayers) as his substitute, then what is the ruling on the salary for these days?

بِسْمِ اللہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ

اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ الْوَھَّابِ اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃَ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ

    The Imām and Mu’azzin are allowed to take as many leaves as it is  norm there. They will have to get more number of leaves deducted whether they do not have an excuse or have an excuse e.g. even for Hajj and ‘Umrah. However, if he makes his substitute someone who is capable of doing Imāmat for such number of days, then this substitution is valid. In this condition, the original Imām is deserving of the salary for such days. Then the original Imam will give his substitute the wages that he had settled with him.

وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَرَسُوْلُہ اَعْلَم صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم

Answered by : Mufti Fuzail Raza Attari