The Obligation of the Employee Toward His Job

Question:
Honorable Father, we ask you to clarify for me and all those present. Regarding money in relation to work, one of the conditions for Allah accepting a servant’s supplication is that his food and clothing be lawful. It is observed that most of us, who are employees in government departments, may find that a person delays arriving at the start of work, or arrives, for example, an hour late in some government offices, or leaves work to attend to some personal matters after asking the head of the department for permission, rather than the direct supervisor, or without asking for permission at all. One may be lazy, or may not be fully rested, as some employees sometimes sleep in the office. What is your opinion? May Allah reward you with good. And may He grant you entry to His Paradise.

Answer:
It is not permissible for the worker to neglect his duty; the worker has taken the job in exchange for work, whether he is an employee in a government department or otherwise. It is obligatory for the worker to strive to perform the work and to preserve the time for which the contract was made. This is his obligation. If he neglects any of this due to an obstacle that prevents him from doing so, or due to a necessity that prevents him, and he does not do it intentionally, then it should be within the scope of forgiveness, and it will not harm him, if Allah wills, nor will it harm his sustenance. However, he should not intentionally engage in negligence and laxity in these matters, such as being significantly late, or doing so without regard for the description of the job. All of this is a great danger to his religion, both in terms of sin and in terms of the employer, for he has not fulfilled the right by which he earns his wage, which is the salary. Therefore, it is obligatory for him to be diligent in this, to avoid laxity as much as possible, and to fear Allah as much as he is able. Whatever is missed due to unforeseen excuses, and whatever is missed in prayer due to such excuses, he should hope that Allah will forgive him.