Answered by Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him)
Should someone take money for teaching the Islamic Sciences?
Earning money should not be the intention and objective of the one teaching. Teaching the Islamic sciences should not be turned into a business. Rather, the teacher should be concerned about conveying the Sacred Law to people. If someone gives you something and he is happy to do so and it is easy for him to do so then you can accept it. If you need it, you can keep it and if you do not then you can give it to someone in need. You should not accept money if the person who gives it has gone through difficulty to obtain it – such as if he had to borrow the money. The highest level of sincerity is not to stipulate a fee, not to be concerned with the fee and to accept whatever comes your way regardless of how much it is and then spend it in a way that is pleasing to Allah.
The sign of the teacher’s truthfulness is that he does not differentiate in the way he teaches and cares for his students between those who pay him and those that do not and those that pay him a little and those that pay him a lot. Rather he treats them all equally.
Should I take a wage for teaching the Qur’an?
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “The best thing to take a wage for is the Book of Allah.” Some scholars use this hadith as evidence for the permissibility of taking a wage for teaching the Qur’an. Your intention should be good and the sign of your sincerity is that you would continue teaching even if you stopped being paid. You should use what you earn to pay for your needs and you should give any extra money away in charity.