The Ruling on Using Personal Work Tools During Office Hours

The questioner : This is a brother who is an employee. In his question, he says: In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Honorable Shaykh, peace be upon you and Allah's mercy.

The Shaykh : And upon you be peace and Allah's mercy.

The questioner : I love you for the sake of Allah. The question is: Matters pass through us in the government offices, where we are employees, that we feel uncomfortable about, but people are not careful about asking about the ruling on these matters. For example, using the paper copier, using the telephone, leaving during work hours, being late to arrive, leaving early, and accommodating some of the employees under our supervision, and much more. Please give us a ruling, may Allah reward you.

The Shaykh : First, we ask Allah, in whom we love one another, to make us, him, and our brothers among the friends of Allah.
As for the matters he mentioned, it is known that the default regarding the money in our hands belonging to the state is that it is respected, and it is not permissible for us to use it for our personal matters. For example, we do not use the copier for things that are specific to us personally. However, if it is in the interest of the work, the matter is clear that it is permissible. As for using the telephone, it appears that the state permits it if it is within the country, as evidenced by the fact that they removed the zero from the number. Removing the zero indicates two things: the prohibition of external calls and the permissibility of internal calls, so this is permissible.
As for the use of state paper, there is no doubt that it is forbidden if you use it for personal matters. However, if you use it for things in the interest of the work, there is no harm in it. As for being late to arrive or leaving early, this is also forbidden and is considered stealing time that belongs to someone else. Just as you would not be pleased if your salary were reduced, even by a small amount, it is not permissible for you to be pleased with the state's time being reduced or to not care about it. As for accommodating those under your authority.
This is looked into. If they accommodate them in a matter where they have leeway, there is no harm. If they accommodate them in a matter where they have no leeway, then that is not permissible. An example of this is if you accommodate those who need you by promoting someone else who is more deserving. For instance, you have a pile of transactions, and an employee comes to you and takes a transaction from the bottom of the pile belonging to a friend of his and says, "Look into it," and you prioritize it over the others. This is not permissible, because Allah said: However, if no forbidden matter results from accommodating those under your authority, there is no harm in accommodating them, because accommodating others is among the good morals, provided it is not at the expense of religion or at the expense of others. May Allah reward you.