Is the imam of a mosque, whose state requires adherence to the Maliki school of thought, obliged to adhere to it in his fiqh lessons, or is it permissible for him to teach what he deems closer to the evidence from other schools of thought, such as the Hanbali school, and would that be considered disobedience to the ruler or make his salary questionable?

There is no objection to the Imam teaching Hanbali jurisprudence as long as it does not lead to conflict or is not prohibited by the Ministry. All schools of thought are valid, and the Imam should exercise wisdom in teaching, educating people about the etiquette of disagreement, and explaining that the اختلاف (disagreement) among the Companions was not a cause for discord. It is preferable to teach a basic text (matn) in Maliki jurisprudence first. The Imam can mention other opinions and their proofs without departing from the (Maliki) school of thought.