Is it permissible for a reciter to take payment for reciting the Qur’an, and is the one who pays him sinful?

Reciting the Quran is an act of worship through which a servant draws closer to his Lord. Its performance must be solely for the sake of Allah's pleasure and seeking reward from Him. It was not known for the Salaf (pious predecessors) to hire people to recite the Quran, nor was it reported from the imams of the religion that this is permissible or that one may take a wage for it. Rather, the Prophet (peace be upon him) commanded those who recite the Quran to ask Allah by it and warned against asking people. As for taking a wage for teaching the Quran or for performing Ruqyah (exorcism) with it, this is permissible due to authentic hadiths that attest to it. Based on this, taking a wage for the recitation itself or hiring a group for it is contrary to the Sunnah and the consensus of the Salaf.