Question Summary:
Can the Imam’s salary be paid from Zakat?

Question Detail:

There is a masjid in our area managed by my mothers brother. Now our masjid requires  an imam. Can  i give zakat to my mothers brother so that imam's salary would be given. In short can an Imam's salary be given from zakaat money or not?

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.   
Assalāmu ῾alaykum wa Rahmatullāhi Wabarakātuh
 
An Imam provides a service for which he is entitled to a remuneration according to his employment contract.
Zakat funds have to be disposed of independently and separately to the poor and needy. Accordingly, zakat cannot be used as wages to pay the Imam. The Imam may be assisted with zakat funds if he is a legitimate recipient of zakat. However, he will still be entitled to his remuneration according to his employment contract. Zakat cannot be given to him to offset wages due to him. 
 
And Allāh Ta῾āla Knows Best
 
Jibran Kadarkhan
Student Dārul Iftā
Mauritius
 
Checked and Approved by:
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
 
 
 
 
 "هي تمليك جزء مال عيّنه الشارع من مسلم فقير غير هاشمي ولا مولاه...[1]
     (الدر المختار :2/258,كتاب الزكاة ,سعيد)  
التصدق علي الإمام الفقير أفضل,و في الشامي: أي من الجاهل الفقير.                                                         [2]
(الدر المختار مع الشامي:2/354,سعيد)      
بحر الرائق:2/240,كوئته))  دفع الزكاة الي من يملك ما دون النصاب أو قدر نصاب غير نام ......... يجوز[3]             
فاروقية ( , 9/532  فتاوى محمودية :( 9/530[4]
                                                                       زمزم( فتاوى دار العلوم زكريا :( 3/200[5]