Do I Have to Be Very Strict in Completing the Hours Expected at Work?

Answered by Ustadh Salman Younas

Question: Assalam aleykum

Although officially we are paid based upon 40 hours work weeks, our work culture does not involve counting hours. However, I do roughly try to keep track of my hours, but sometimes I find this to be very difficult. I was wondering if all this is necessary if the work culture does not require it?

Answer: assalamu alaykum

The basis is that one should be very careful in ensuring that he/she is fulfilling what is required of him/her as it relates to such contractual terms. This is indicated by the Quran when it instructs, “O you who believe, fulfill your contracts.” (5:1) Part of fulfilling one’s contract is to complete the hours expected of one and for which you are being remunerated for.

However, if there is a known and general practice of a given employer or company allowing employers a degree of flexibility when it comes to some of what you describe, there would be no problem in availing oneself of this. But an employee should be confident that this is in fact the accepted culture of the company he/she works for and not merely him/her taking advantage of an employer’s unawareness or being remiss in the duties contractually and customarily expected of one.

[Ustadh] Salman Younas

Checked and approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Salman Younas graduated from Stony Brook University with a degree in Political Science and Religious Studies. After studying the Islamic sciences online and with local scholars in New York, Ustadh Salman moved to Amman. There he studies Islamic law, legal methodology, belief, hadith methodology, logic, Arabic, and tafsir.