Q 2: In many Muslim countries, there are people who recite the Qur'an in return for money, is this permissible? Is it a sin on the part of whoever pays them this money?

(Part No. 9; Page No. 40)  A: Reciting the Qur'an is an act of worship through which a servant draws near to Allah. The basic ruling concerning such an act and other acts of worships is that they are done for seeking the Pleasure of Allah and His Reward, not the gratitude or reward of any other creature. Accordingly, it has never been reported on the part of the Salaf (righteous predecessors) that they paid people to recite Qur'an for the deceased or in feasts or other celebrations. Also it has not been reported that any of the well versed scholars ordered this to be done or considered it permissible, or that any of them received payment for reciting the Qur'an. Rather, they recited the Qur'an for the sake of attaining the Pleasure of Allah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) ordered whoever recites the Qur'an to beseech Allah through it, and warned against reciting the Qur'an and asking people for a reward in return for it. It has been narrated by Al-Tirmidhy in his Sunan (Hadith compilations classified by jurisprudential themes) on the authority of `Imran ibn Husayn that he passed by a person who recited the Qur'an and then asked people for money. Then he said: Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji`un (Truly to Allah we belong and truly to Him we shall return), I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) while he was saying: Whoever recites the Qur'an should ask Allah through it as there will come some people who recite the Qur'an and ask people for reward in return for it. As for receiving a payment in return for teaching the Qur'an, making Ruqyah (reciting Qur'an and saying supplications over the sick seeking healing) or similar matters which benefit others, there are many sound Hadiths on the permissibility of doing so. These Hadiths include the narration of Abu Sa`id in which he took a flock of sheep in return for reciting Al-Fatihah over a person who was stung, and the Hadith narrated on the authority of Sahl in which the Prophet gave a woman in marriage to a man and made her dowry that he should teach her what he memorizes of the Qur'an. Consequently, receiving payment in return for reciting the Qur'an or paying people to do that, is contrary to the Sunnah, and to the Ijma` (consensus) (Part No. 9; Page No. 41) of the Salaf (may Allah be pleased with them all).May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.