All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon His Messenger Muhammad ﷺ.

Islam teaches that some deeds continue to earn reward for a believer even after death. The Prophet ﷺ said:

“When a person dies, all of his deeds come to an end except three: ongoing charity (ṣadaqah jāriyah), beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child who prays for him.”
(Sahih Muslim)

This hadith establishes that beneficial knowledge is itself a source of ongoing reward, regardless of whether it was originally given freely or in exchange for compensation. The decisive factor is not whether one was paid, but whether the knowledge taught was beneficial and whether its benefit continues after the teacher’s death.

Receiving payment for teaching does not invalidate the reward, nor does it prevent the deed from being ṣadaqah jāriyah. The Companions of the Prophet ﷺ accepted compensation for teaching the Qur’an, and the Prophet ﷺ approved of this. In an authentic hadith, he ﷺ said:

“The most deserving thing for which you take payment is the Book of Allah.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari)

Scholars explain that teaching becomes ṣadaqah jāriyah when the knowledge continues to be used, taught, or acted upon. If a student prays correctly, teaches others, develops good character, or benefits the community because of what they learned, the teacher continues to receive a reward, even if the teacher was salaried at the time of instruction.

However, intention remains essential. If the teaching is done solely for worldly gain with no concern for sincerity or benefit, the reward may be diminished. But if the teacher intends both lawful provision and service to Allah through spreading beneficial knowledge, then the deed is rewarded, multiplied, and ongoing.