The monthly pay for a muezzin is barely SR1,200, while an imam receives a maximum of SR4,000 per month. How is it possible that the monthly unemployment benefits of SR2,000, to be paid early next year, is more than what the muezzin gets? Officials of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Dawa and Guidance claimed what is paid to imams and muezzins is not a monthly salary in the strictest sense of the word, but a reward from the Beit Maal Al-Muslimeen (Finance House of Muslims). They said that nobody should be paid for worshipping God.

If we apply this logic widely, many government jobs can be described as voluntary.

They include judges, notary public, employees of the Commission to Promote Virtue and Prevent Vice (Haia) and Qur'an teachers. The government pays employees in these positions. Why does it not consider imams and muezzins part of this group too? They justify the meager pay by claiming imams and muezzins can get other jobs in addition to their work at the mosque.

They said employees in these positions are the only ones allowed to get another job and earn additional income.

However, many imams and muezzins have no other job to do except lead prayer, deliver sermons and look after the affairs of the mosques. A large number of them have no income other than the little payment they get from the ministry.

Some of the mosques do not have housing facilities for imams and muezzins who are obliged to rent out despite their meager incomes. Is the ministry, which owns a lot of Wakf (endowment) buildings, unable to provide them with accommodation? The imams and muezzins are entitled to a month’s leave every year. Ironically, the reward in this case will go to those who cover for them! The regulations do not differentiate between imams and muezzins who are committed to their work and those who come to the mosque once or twice a week. They all get the same reward.

In other GCC countries, the least minimum reward for imams and muezzins is about SR4,000. They are also provided with financial help for the education of their children in addition to a house or housing allowance. They have a weekly off-day.

So since this job is voluntary and aimed at serving the religion, I believe that if the monthly reward is abolished, about 90 percent of the imams and muezzins will raise banners saying their jobs are for sale! The solution to this problem is making these jobs official with steady monthly payments, pay rises and all other benefits. They should be given to graduates of Shariah colleges after they pass intensive courses and studies.