Is it permissible for an employee to take an emergency leave to perform 'Umrah?
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The questioner : The questioner asks: Is it permissible for an employee to take an emergency leave for the purpose of performing 'Umrah?
The Shaykh : This question is very common, because some people take emergency leave to perform 'Umrah or to do i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque). This is not permissible, and the salary he receives for the days he took leave for becomes forbidden (haram) for him. This is because the word "emergency" means that dire necessity (darurah) called for this leave. Allah the Exalted said:[Al-An'am 6:119] And He said, when mentioning the prohibition of carrion and what is conjoined with it: [Al-Ma'idah 5:3] So the word "emergency" means that dire necessity called for it, such as a person's illness, or nursing a relative who has no one to nurse him, or something similar. But taking it to perform 'Umrah, there is no necessity at all. Likewise, for one who takes it to do i'tikaf, where is the necessity? Is i'tikaf obligatory? I ask you.
The questioner : No.
The Shaykh : Is 'Umrah obligatory if a person has already performed it before? No. There is no religious necessity and no physical necessity. Then know that if the employee performs the duty of his job, it is better for him than if he performs the recommended (mustahabb) 'Umrah, because performing the obligatory is more beloved to Allah than performing the voluntary, as it is authentic in the Qudsi Hadith that Allah the Exalted said:Sahih al-Bukhari 6502 Then, the government, may Allah guide it, has provided an opportunity for whoever wants to perform 'Umrah, which is the leave for the festival. When does the leave start? From the 25th. You have four days for certain. Four days in which you can perform 'Umrah. So I advise my brothers who have a desire for good to know that all good is in performing the obligatory, and that their remaining in their jobs to perform the duty they pledged to the state is better than coming to 'Umrah. Then, there is also non-emergency leave every week. What is it? Thursday and Friday. A person can travel at the end of Wednesday and come back on Saturday morning. What about the casual leave? I do not know about it. If the employee has ten days a year without a reason, he can request it whenever he wishes.
The questioner : Work circumstances
The Shaykh : Do you understand?
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : By Allah, do not put me in a difficult position by saying that the higher authority above all the officials under it, such as the Ministry of Civil Service, does not allow this. And I think we read in the newspapers last year that it is not allowed for a person to request emergency leave for 'Umrah or for i'tikaf.
The Shaykh : This question is very common, because some people take emergency leave to perform 'Umrah or to do i'tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque). This is not permissible, and the salary he receives for the days he took leave for becomes forbidden (haram) for him. This is because the word "emergency" means that dire necessity (darurah) called for this leave. Allah the Exalted said:
while He has explained in detail to you what He has forbidden you, excepting that to which you are compelled
وقد فصل لكم ما حرم عليكم إلا ما اضطررتم إليهBut whoever is forced by severe hunger with no inclination to sin - then indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
فمن اضطر في مخمصة غير متجانف لإثم فإن الله غفور رحيمThe questioner : No.
The Shaykh : Is 'Umrah obligatory if a person has already performed it before? No. There is no religious necessity and no physical necessity. Then know that if the employee performs the duty of his job, it is better for him than if he performs the recommended (mustahabb) 'Umrah, because performing the obligatory is more beloved to Allah than performing the voluntary, as it is authentic in the Qudsi Hadith that Allah the Exalted said:
And the most beloved things with which My slave comes nearer to Me, is what I have enjoined upon him
ما تقرب إليّ عبدي بشيء أحب إليّ مما افترضت عليهThe questioner : Work circumstances
The Shaykh : Do you understand?
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : By Allah, do not put me in a difficult position by saying that the higher authority above all the officials under it, such as the Ministry of Civil Service, does not allow this. And I think we read in the newspapers last year that it is not allowed for a person to request emergency leave for 'Umrah or for i'tikaf.