What is the ruling on an employee reading Quran during official work hours at the company’s expense?.
Praise be to Allah.
If that is at the company’s expense – as mentioned in the question – then it is not permissible, because the employee has agreed with the workplace that he will do the work that he is entrusted with, adhering to the daily work hours. So if he does not work complete hours, or falls short in his work, that is forbidden, because Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“O you who believe! Fulfill (your) obligations”
[Al-Ma'idah 5:1]
And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The Muslims are bound by their conditions.” Narrated by Abu Dawood (3594), classed as sahih by al-Albani in Sahih Abi Dawood.
But if his reading Quran does not affect his work performance, there is nothing wrong with that in sha Allah.
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked: If an employee has finished his work and he wants to make use of the time by reading Quran or reading something useful, or even wants to take a nap so that he can rest a little, is there anything wrong with that?
He replied:
There is nothing wrong with that so long as he has completed the work that he was entrusted with. But if he is negligent or falls short in doing his work, then it is haram for him and it is not permissible. As for taking a nap, there is no concession with regard to that, because he will have no control over himself and he may sleep and miss his work without realizing. End quote from Fatawa al-Huqooq, compiled by Abu Khalid al-Juraysi, p. 59.
See also the answer to Question no. 9374.
And Allah knows best.
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