is stealing rubbish haram?

[waleed-]

This might sound like a ridiculous question, and your probably thinking im high on something, but is stealing of rubbish, specifically from the workplace haram?

These are only examples,

Maybe you work at a restaurant or fast food outlet.Many times they throw food in the bin.Are you allowed to take it?

You work in a clothing shop, and they chuck out damaged clothing.Can you take it?

You work in a pharmacy and some medicines are damaged or out of date,can you take them home to maybe use?

etc etc,

Most time the rubbish would be of little value, other times it would be of value

Would the taking of rubbish fall under the category below.


The first scenario: it is something to which most people would not attach much value, such as a whip, or a loaf of bread, or some fruit, or a stick. In these cases, the person who finds the property may keep it and use it without having to announce it, because of the report narrated by Jaabir, who said:
“The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) made exceptions in the case of a stick or a whip or a rope that a man picks up.” (Reported by Abu Dawood).

[Palo $oldier]

..and your probably thinking im high on something, ...

lol bro u made me laugh, i dnt hav an asnswer sorry

[Adelaidean]

i think it would be worse to let it go to waste.
So, go for it!


It's weird actually, some places, like where some friends of mine used to work, they would prohibit staff from taking things they were going to throw away and destroy!!
can you think of anything more crazy?


"surely Allah does not love the wasters" - somewhere in Quran i think

[Palo $oldier]

^ i agree.
i ued 2 work at kfc and the staff woluld take home the left over food, rather then it going to the bin

[caller]

good question, at my old workplace i was notorious for collecting 'rubbish' my supervisors would often find me climbing out of the skips with whatever was thrown out earlier that day.

i never really checked the exact ruling on it but for me as soon as it was in the skip it was fair game, and there were other brothers who worked there as well more knowledgeable than me and i was never reprimanded by them, our supervisors were muslim aswell and very strict about looking after the companies interests.

the best time was when the company was merged with another, the new company joined the premises and massive renovations/cleanout happened. there was a 10 metre skip in the warehouse every day getting filled with so much goodies, i wish a had a truck, i wouldve made heaps flogging it all of on ebay. the managers were very wasteful.

[Abdraheim]

He takes home some things that the company has thrown out
I work for a company which provides us with meals each day. I do not eat some of it; I collect it and take it home with me. And they throw out some files so I collect them and take them home. What is the ruling on that?.

Praise be to Allaah.
It seems that with regard to these meals, the company gives them to their employees and workers to keep. The basic principle is that if a person owns something (i.e., it is his to keep), then he may dispose of it as he wishes, Based on this, there is nothing wrong with you taking home what is left of your own meal that the company bought for you, unless the company has specifically stated that nothing should be taken away. In that case it is not permissible for you to take it.

There is nothing wrong with taking the files that have been thrown out and making use of them, because if a person throws something away, the one who takes it becomes its owner. The Standing Committee was asked about cheap or worthless things that are found in the trash but are fit to be used – is it permissible to take them home and use them? They replied as follows: If the situation is as described and those things are things that no one would care to keep, then there is nothing wrong with taking them and making use of them.

Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 15/455.

Islam Q&A

[msam]

In the same vein,

What about tasting fruits (grapes, cherries and etc) at market or woolies?

[Najah]

it sounds like you have a thing for stealing stuff waleed with all the questions your asking

[Explorer]

once somebody throws something in the rubbish bin with the intention of never seeing it again, they give up all rights to it.

[Abdraheim]

In the same vein,

What about tasting fruits (grapes, cherries and etc) at market or woolies?

hmm not allowed because it isn't your, unless of course the OWNER gives u permission.

[caller]

msam ethically i wouldnt do that unless the vendor specifically permitted you to, if you starting munching on grapes etc at a market then decide to purchase them and pay based on weight then you will be underpaying right? different story if its pre packed (ie biscuits and you are going to actually buy them, why not munch while shopping, the barcode is the same) and/or the vendor says 'here try these grapes' and Allah knows best.

reminds me of about 10 years ago and before islam there was a drink called 'dare' the marketing slogan was 'dare you to try it' well one night at the 24hour servo/market (like 7/11) i did, i grabbed the bottle, opened it, tried it, wasnt satisfied, ukkh iced coffee, closed it and put it back.

[msam]

reminds me of about 10 years ago and before islam there was a drink called 'dare' the marketing slogan was 'dare you to try it' well one night at the 24hour servo/market (like 7/11) i did, i grabbed the bottle, opened it, tried it, wasnt satisfied, ukkh iced coffee, closed it and put it back.

lol!!

agree with your logic about tasting of fruits before buying.
But some shops prohibit it by having a board saying no tasting and sometime they dont. So when they don’t, is it assumed you can taste it?
Anyway as you mentioned it’s better to ask the seller before you did it.

[caller]

i wouldn't assume that it is alright to taste anything, unless its the cultural norm in that area, and im pretty sure its not the norm here, ussualy if they offer samples they are in a separate container and a message of invitation to try is there.