What is the ruling on the money received by public company employees from their work in a private company without the knowledge of the parent company, and their taking of the parent company's equipment and documents for use in the private company?

The use of company tools by employees to work for another company without permission constitutes betrayal, transgression, and the unlawful consumption of people's wealth. This is forbidden, based on the Almighty's saying: "{And do not consume your properties among yourselves through falsehood}," and the Prophet's (PBUH) saying: "The wealth of a person is not lawful except with his willing consent."

Their work in a private company is permissible if it is not during official working hours, or if it is with the permission of whoever has the right to grant permission. Otherwise, it is impermissible, and the resulting earnings are ill-gotten and forbidden.

Whoever has committed this must perform sincere repentance by ceasing the sin, feeling remorse, and resolving not to return to it. They must also inform the company of what happened so that their wages can be reduced by the amount they earned from working for others. If they fear dismissal or prosecution, they should return the money to the company without its knowledge, based on a precise estimation or a strong presumption.