and the followers of Abū Hanīfah and a group of Mālik’s followers, another consideration must be taken into account: such deeds constitute acts of worship only when performed seeking Allah’s countenance. Whatever becomes due under a contract of hire or an agreement for a stipulated reward is not an act of devotion, even if receiving wages or a stipulated reward for it is permissible. For it is permissible to hire someone to lead prayers, give the call to prayer, and teach the Quran. We say … (1).

He—may Allah have mercy on him—was asked:

Someone endowed a school in Jerusalem and stipulated that its residents perform the five daily prayers there. Is this condition valid? May the residents perform the five daily prayers in al-Aqsā Mosque instead and still receive their allotted stipends? Or is receiving them lawful only if they fulfil this condition?

He answered:

This is not a valid condition upon which entitlement depends. Shaykh ʿIzz al-Dīn ibn ʿAbd al-Salām and other scholars issued this very ruling in precisely this situation, on the basis of several proofs. We have discussed these at length elsewhere, together with the scholars’ statements on the matter.

The residents may perform the five daily prayers in al-Aqsā Mosque rather than in the school. They remain entitled to their allotted stipends, and this is better for them