✦ Islamic Ruling on Taking Personal Items from a Factory ✦
Question:
A person works in a textile factory and asked the general manager whether he could take a small piece of cloth for personal use—such as to make a face mask or handkerchief. The manager responded, “Yes, we are entitled to that much.” The question is: Can the employee act on the manager’s word and take the cloth? If he does, will the accountability fall on the manager, or will the employee also be answerable before Allah?
Answer by: Shaykh Abdul Wakeel Nasir (Hafizahullah)
It is essential to first evaluate what level of authority the manager has been granted by the factory owner:
◈ If the manager has limited authority, and he oversteps by permitting others to take items from the factory, then he alone bears the responsibility for this overreach.
If the manager allows employees to take items merely to gain popularity or be seen as generous, then this would be a misuse of his position, and he will be answerable to Allah for it.
In such a case, if it becomes evident that the manager does not have legal permission to grant such allowances, then:
✔ The employee should not rely solely on the manager's word,
✔ And should instead consult the factory owner directly to obtain clear permission.
However, if it is confirmed that the owner is aware of such allowances and has granted the manager authority in such minor matters:
◈ Then it is permissible for the employee to take the cloth based on the manager’s permission,
◈ And there is no sin upon the employee in this scenario, in shā Allah.
✔ If the manager has limited authority and oversteps his bounds, he alone is accountable before Allah.
✔ If the owner is informed and has delegated such authority to the manager, then there is no harm in accepting such permission.
Question:
A person works in a textile factory and asked the general manager whether he could take a small piece of cloth for personal use—such as to make a face mask or handkerchief. The manager responded, “Yes, we are entitled to that much.” The question is: Can the employee act on the manager’s word and take the cloth? If he does, will the accountability fall on the manager, or will the employee also be answerable before Allah?
Answer by: Shaykh Abdul Wakeel Nasir (Hafizahullah)
❖ Detailed Ruling Based on Managerial Authority
① Reviewing the Nature of the Manager’s Authority
It is essential to first evaluate what level of authority the manager has been granted by the factory owner:
◈ If the manager has limited authority, and he oversteps by permitting others to take items from the factory, then he alone bears the responsibility for this overreach.
② Accountability for Misuse of Authority
If the manager allows employees to take items merely to gain popularity or be seen as generous, then this would be a misuse of his position, and he will be answerable to Allah for it.
In such a case, if it becomes evident that the manager does not have legal permission to grant such allowances, then:
✔ The employee should not rely solely on the manager's word,
✔ And should instead consult the factory owner directly to obtain clear permission.
③ Taking with the Owner’s Knowledge and Permission
However, if it is confirmed that the owner is aware of such allowances and has granted the manager authority in such minor matters:
◈ Then it is permissible for the employee to take the cloth based on the manager’s permission,
◈ And there is no sin upon the employee in this scenario, in shā Allah.
❖ Conclusion
✔ If the manager has limited authority and oversteps his bounds, he alone is accountable before Allah.
✔ If the owner is informed and has delegated such authority to the manager, then there is no harm in accepting such permission.
