I am working in a govt. department in Saudi Arabia and I am head of my section having approx. 22 persons working under my supervision. We are having 3 hours overtime daily for which we are being paid at the end of the month. Our immediate boss (who is also an employee) told us that we can stay daily 2.5 hours and still in our time sheet can write 3 hours to get money on the basis of 3 hours daily. What is Islamic ruling? (2) Since the start of new Islamic Year our boss told us that it is not necessary to attend overtime, but still staff will get overtime based on the time sheet submitted by section heads (I am one of the 4 section heads). Now the heads of other 3 sections are agreed to submit full month overtime attendance (3 hours daily) without sitting even half an hour to get full money. What shall I do? I will be really grateful for your earlier response.
Answer:
(Fatwa: 159/90/D=1433)
(1) You are not employees of your immediate boss rather you are the employees of government department. Hence it is necessary to follow the rules and regulations of government. If that department does not allow writing 3 hours in the register instead of 2.5 hours then it is not lawful for you to do so. And it shall not be halal to take the salary of extra 30 minutes.
(2) It is not lawful to do so as it is mentioned under no. 1.
Allah (Subhana Wa Ta’ala) knows Best
Darul Ifta,
Darul Uloom Deoband