The Social Aspect of Islam | Part 5

Rights Related to Employment

In regards to work and employment, Islam introduced principles and guidelines which define the relationship between the employer and the employed.

The Rights of the Employed

Islam enjoins that the relationship between employer and employee should be based upon principles of brotherhood, equality and dignity. The Prophet (ﷺ) said

“Your servants are your brothers whom Allah has placed under your authority. Whoever has his brother under his authority, let him feed him from what he eats and clothe him with what he wears. Let him not burden him with more than he can bear, and if you do, then help him.” [al-Bukhari]

Islam has guaranteed their right to receive wages. The Prophet (ﷺ) narrated from Allah (SWT) that He said:

“I will stand against three types of people on the Day of Requital: a person who swears by Me and then betrays his oath, a person who sells a free person and eats the money he gains from it, and a person who hired a workman, takes his full due [of work] from him but does not give him his right (his wages).” [al-Bukhari]

It also orders that the wages be negotiated before work begins In a Hadeeth collected by Ahmad, the Prophet (ﷺ) forbade hiring a workman before negotiating his wages.

Islam also commands that wages be paid immediately after the task has been completed. The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“Pay the workman his wages before his sweat dries.” [ibn Majaah]

They are not to be given more work than they can bear; if  given more than he can bear, than he should be given extra wages or help. The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“Let him also not burden him with more than he can bear, and if you do, then help him.”[al-Bukhari]

In order to raise the honor and dignity of labour, the Prophet (ﷺ) said that it was the best and most pure of earnings, if done through permissible means. The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“No person has eaten better food than that which [was bought from the wages which] his own hands toiled. Indeed David (AS), the Prophet of Allah, ate from what his own hands earned.” [al-Bukhari]

 To encourage manual labour, the Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“By Him in Whose Hands is my soul, if one of you goes and chops wood, ties it, and carries it on his back, it is better for him than to beg people, whether they give him money or not.” [al-Bukhari]

The Rights of the Employer

As Islam required the employer to give the employee his due rights; the employees should also observe the rights of the employer.. ,they should carry out the work in the best manner, without delay or shortcomings. The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“Indeed Allah likes that if one of you performs some work, that he does it perfectly.”[Abu Ya’laa]

In order to encourage people to do their assigned work properly and sincerely, Islam has made this type of wages from the best of earnings. The Prophet (ﷺ) said :

“The best of earnings are those earned by working sincerely and properly.” [Ahmad]

General Rights and Obligations

Islam obligates upon Muslims to regard the conditions of their Muslim brothers, wherever they may be. The Prophets (ﷺ) said:

“The believers in their love, mercy and their feeling for each other are like one body: if one part feels pains, all the other parts feel pain through fever and sleeplessness.” [Muslim]

Islam orders that Muslims strive to improve their condition. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “None of you believes until lie loves for his brother what he loves for himself.” [al-Bukhari]

 It orders that Muslims stand by their brothers at times of crises and agony. The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“The believers are like a solid structure, each one (brick) strengthens the other (and then he clasped his hands and intertwined his fingers.” [al-Bukhari]

It orders that Muslims come to the aid of their brothers and assist them in times of war if they are in need. Allah (SWT) says:

And if they seek your help in Religion, it is your duty to help them.. [8:72]

 It forbids that they be forsaken in their time of need. The Prophet (ﷺ) commanded that the Muslims support their oppressed brothers. [al-Bukhari]