Working Hours

We understand from the query that you are working for an employer who is paying you for your time (from 8am to 5pm in your case), and not according to the amount of work done for the day. The Fuqaha have explained that a full-time employee deserves his full salary at the end of the month by dedicating his time for work during the specific hours of employment. By presenting himself during the allocated time and doing his best to do the requested tasks from his employer, he is fulfilling the signed and agreed upon contract between him and his employer. His salary will be considered Halal and it will not be incumbent for him to return any money to the employer. 

They further explain that without the permission from the employer, it will not permissible for a full-time employee to carry out any kind of work like working for someone else or doing his own business besides the job for which he was employed . They even went to the extent of saying that it will only be permissible for him to perform the obligatory prayer (Fardh Salaah) and not even his Nawaafil Salaah during that specific time.  

If he involves himself in other work during that time without the permission of the employee, then it would be advisable for him (lest he not be taken to task by Allah Ta’ala) to return a portion of his salary back to the employer, or alternatively he can make up for that amount of time that he spent in other work. This is because he knows that by doing private work during the working hours, he is not deserving of the full salary.

In the case when the matter has been discussed with the employer and he expressly gives his consent, it will be permissible for the employee to carry out other private work during his time of employment.