Is it permissible for a preacher, male or female, to earn a profit from selling religious books or a fee for delivering lectures and teaching religion, and does this affect their reward on the Day of Judgment?

It is permissible to take payment for writing Islamic books, delivering lectures, or teaching religion. Evidence from the Sunnah supports this, such as the hadith about taking payment for ruqyah with Al-Fatiha, and the hadith about a man marrying a woman in exchange for what he knew of the Qur’an. As for the reduction of reward in the Hereafter by taking such payment, it is possible that the reward for one who does not take payment is more complete and greater. However, whoever’s intention behind a good deed is to spread knowledge and uphold the banner of Islam, and payment is a means to achieve that, will have a reward in the Hereafter. But whoever’s sole intention is payment, without seeking the countenance of Allah, will have no reward in the Hereafter, as is mentioned in the hadith about one who strives for a worldly gain.