Is the salary of an Imam who does not lead people in prayer, but rather teaches, delivers sermons, and carries out other mosque duties, considered unlawful money? And does donating a portion of this money purify any unlawfulness that may be attached to it?

He who has been appointed to lead prayers in a mosque for a salary must fully commit to leading the people in prayer, and he is not permitted to be absent except with permission, explicitly or by custom.

The esteemed scholar Al-Uthaymeen, may Allah have mercy on him, says: "It is not permissible for the Imam to miss even one prayer unless it is according to common custom, such as one or two prayers a week, or if he is an employee who must be absent for Dhuhr prayer, and he informs the Awqaf director, and the congregation agrees, then there is no harm."

If you fall short in performing the prayer and are absent, you must seek forgiveness and inform the officials. If they grant you permission, then all is permissible. Otherwise, you must pay for the extent of your shortcoming. If it is not possible to inform the responsible authority, then you should donate the amount to the poor.

Unlawful money includes what is taken without right, such as an employee taking money for work he did not perform without permission.

The one who possesses unlawful money, if he disposes of it, is rewarded for complying with the command, not for charity; because he does not own it.