Another explanation given by the scholars is about the issue of ‘public belongings’, like the assets of a company, organization or an institution. This is a significant issue and must be observed because public belongings that are unlawfully taken are considered ghalul (a kind of stealing or taking something illegally), a practice which are is expiated even by Jihad in the way of Allah until one pays them back. This is related in a prophetic narration about a martyr who took a small portion of the booty of the war.
Today, many Muslims regard this issue of ghalul as insignificant. For example, taking paper and pen from the public office for personal use. Another instance is the personal use of the photocopy machine, company car, telephone, company money or any other instrument without getting the permission from the authority. We will also be held responsible if we should damage or vandalise public property/belongings. A good example of protecting oneself from ghalul is one set by Khalifah Umar bin Abdulaziz when he used one candle for his administration duties and put it out upon completion of his obligations. He would then use his personal candle.
We need to take lessons from this example of how we should use things in the way they are allocated for. For example, we need to turn off the lights and the air-conditioner when we leave the public office and save the electricity bill of the company/organization. By doing this, we will be rewarded by Allah and Allah will respond to our du’a.
When you learn, you lead others aright and save them from captivity. But you don’t just learn anything, you seek beneficial knowledge and wisdom from the right sources with the proper ethics. Look for the write up on ethics of seeking knowledge. And as usual, when you sleep over the bed of heedlessness in your youth, then be sure to tread on the path of regret during old age. Let me hasten to reiterate that seeking knowledge frees you from the captivity and prison of ignorance and darkness. So my good friends, brothers and sisters in Islam, seek beneficial knowledge and wisdom with the correct ethics, aiming to benefit society with the knowledge and hoping for reward from the Almighty Allah. Laziness is very attractive to ignorance, so wherever there is laziness in the quest for knowledge, be certain to find ignorance married happily to Mr. laziness, making a perfect couple with darkness as their residence. Corrections, criticisms and the like are welcome as usual. They keep me on my toes and on the look out for much information. Since information is key in this day and age.
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