Using office equipment or the telephone for personal purposes at work when necessary: Is this considered among the forbidden things?
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The questioner : This questioner says, "O honorable Shaykh, using office equipment or the telephone for personal purposes at work, only when necessary, is this considered among the forbidden things?"
The Shaykh : If this office equipment belongs to someone else, whether it belongs to the government, a company, or a partner, it is not permissible to use or utilize it, even when necessary. Yes, if a dire necessity that must be met is found, it may be said to be permissible if the person intends to return something like it or better than it. As for using it in a way that damages it and not returning its equivalent, this is not permissible under any circumstances.
It has reached me that some people are lenient in this matter in government offices, using the official computers and the official copying machines for their personal needs. They use these things for their personal needs, and this is not permissible. It is obligatory for the one who fears Allah (Mighty and Majestic) not to use these things except with the permission of the one who has the authority to grant such permission. I say "the one who has the authority to grant such permission" so that one does not say, "My direct supervisor gave me permission for this." If the general regulations require preventing this thing, the permission of the direct supervisor is not considered valid. That is, if the direct supervisor gives you permission to do something and the general regulations require that you not do it, you have no right to do it, even if the direct supervisor gave permission. This is because the direct supervisor himself does not have the right to use it for himself or to permit it for others. He is a trustee, so it is not permissible for him to permit something that the general regulations require to be prevented. This is a problem that many people fall into, namely that some direct supervisors permit those under their authority to do something that the general regulations prohibit. They intend thereby to facilitate, ease, and do good, but this is not in its proper place. May Allah except the case where he is delegated that authority, by the first official in the state or his deputy saying, "There is no harm in granting a dispensation in this matter occasionally to foster affection and unite the employees," because strictness with employees may be a cause of their aversion to this job and their transfer to another position. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : If this office equipment belongs to someone else, whether it belongs to the government, a company, or a partner, it is not permissible to use or utilize it, even when necessary. Yes, if a dire necessity that must be met is found, it may be said to be permissible if the person intends to return something like it or better than it. As for using it in a way that damages it and not returning its equivalent, this is not permissible under any circumstances.
It has reached me that some people are lenient in this matter in government offices, using the official computers and the official copying machines for their personal needs. They use these things for their personal needs, and this is not permissible. It is obligatory for the one who fears Allah (Mighty and Majestic) not to use these things except with the permission of the one who has the authority to grant such permission. I say "the one who has the authority to grant such permission" so that one does not say, "My direct supervisor gave me permission for this." If the general regulations require preventing this thing, the permission of the direct supervisor is not considered valid. That is, if the direct supervisor gives you permission to do something and the general regulations require that you not do it, you have no right to do it, even if the direct supervisor gave permission. This is because the direct supervisor himself does not have the right to use it for himself or to permit it for others. He is a trustee, so it is not permissible for him to permit something that the general regulations require to be prevented. This is a problem that many people fall into, namely that some direct supervisors permit those under their authority to do something that the general regulations prohibit. They intend thereby to facilitate, ease, and do good, but this is not in its proper place. May Allah except the case where he is delegated that authority, by the first official in the state or his deputy saying, "There is no harm in granting a dispensation in this matter occasionally to foster affection and unite the employees," because strictness with employees may be a cause of their aversion to this job and their transfer to another position. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.