What is the ruling on the salary received by a government employee from the Ministry of Agriculture for six years without actually performing work, and what should he do with the money earned if it is unlawful and has already been spent? And what is the ruling on someone who combines this salary with another government job or a commercial business?

The employee must commit to his work to earn a lawful wage; otherwise, the wage would be unlawful, based on the Almighty’s saying: (O you who have believed, do not consume your properties among yourselves unlawfully). There is no harm in an employee being absent from work with the knowledge and permission of the officials, and he is entitled to his wage, especially if it is due to the unavailability of a place to work, or the existence of prohibited mingling, while striving to find a suitable work opportunity. It is permissible for an employee to combine his government job with another job, provided that this does not affect his performance in his original job.