Stipend of Teaching
Juristshadvariousopinionsregardingthepermissibilityoftheteach-
ers’ receiving stipends. Some disallowed while others legalized. Each
hadtheir own arguments recorded in the books of jurisprudence. The
unanimousfactisthatthevirtuousandthereligiousteachersrefusedto
receivewagesforteaching.TheyofferedtheireffortstoGod’ssakeand
the Hereafter. They understood that the process of teaching is God’s
guidance;therefore,itisunfittotakewagesforitsincetheprophetsdid
notaskforwages.Ad-DehakbinMuzahimandAbdullahbinal-Harith,
forinstance,refusedtoreceivewagesfortheteachingtheyhadprovided
forchildren.Moreover,theyforborefromacceptingthepresentsoffered
bytheirpupils’fathers..Once,Abdurrahmanas-Salami,whowasteach-
inginKufaMosque,refusedapresentofferedbyoneofhispupils’fath-
er, and wrote to him, “We do not teach the Quran for wages.”.
HajjiKhalifasays,“Thepurposebeyondthepublicityofknowledgeis
notsecuringthelifeaffairs.Itispurposedforshowingfactsanddiscip-
liningmoralities. Thosewho receiveknowledgeforobtaining aprofes-
sionarenotscholars.Theyaresemi-scholars.TheEasternmasterschol-
arsreferredtothispoint.Whentheyareinformedoftheestablishmentof
schools in Baghdad, they held consolation ceremonies for the know-
ledge.They said,“The mastersof elevatedconcernsanddignifiedper-
sonalitieswereengagedinknowledgeintendingtoattainhonorandper-
fection.Theybecomethescholarsofusefulknowledgeandpersonalities.
Thelowly andthe lazycometoknowledgewhenstipendsbegan tobe
receivedforteaching.”.Peoplespentbigrichesforobtainingknowledge
for purposes other than improving their livelihood. Abu Bakr an-Nis-
apuri said, “I spendone hundred thousand dirhamsfor obtaining the
knowledgeof hadithbywhichIbenefitednosingledirham.”Withthe
developmentoftheIslamicstateandthescientificmovementduringthe
Abbasidreign,knowledgebecameapath takenforreachingtheruling
regimes and securinga good livelihood. Since then, stipends were re-
ceivedforteaching.IbnKhuldounsaid,“Knowledgebecameoneofthe
professions.Theextremiststookitasawayofgainingleadingpositions;
therefore, individuals other than its real people took this position to
change it into a profession. The wealthy and the officials disdained
knowledge.”.
ThegrandreligiousuniversitiesofNajafandQumarestillpracticingthe