THE
118TH SERMON DELIVERED AT AREA 10 JUMA’AH MASJID ABUJA,
BY YAHYA GARBA AL-YOLAWI, ON 6TH MAY 2017/ 8TH SHAABAN 1438 AH
TOPIC: DUTIES
AND RIGHTS OF WORKERS IN ISLAM
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious the Most
Merciful
Islam praised the
concept of work, and stressed that the believer who works to sustain his living
is far better than who relies and depend on others for his living. The live
example of this is the fact that almost all the prophets and messengers of
Allah have worked to earn their living in order to lead by example.
“AndWe did not send
before you, [O Muhammad], any of the messengers except that they ate food and
walked in the markets….” Q20:25
Thus, Islam offered
specific rights to workers as citizens and
community members and maintained a
lot of principles that safe guard and guarantee their duties and rights as
workers with the aims of establishing social justice and securing a decent and
meaningful life for the employer, workers and their families in their lifetime
and beyond.
It is part of the Prophet (SAW) teachings to encourage work
and assure basic rights for all categories of workers whether employees or day
laborers. Workers should be treated with dignity and honor regardless of the
kind of work they are performing, as long as this work is based on agreement
and is lawful.
Islam has placed a high
value in having work, most especially (self-employed) and viewed it from a
religious perspective and regard it as way of rendering services to humanity.
Islam made work as part of the religious activities that one can even be
rewarded for and considered as an act of
worship most especially if the intention is
purified.
Umar ibn Al - Khattab, used to say: “Never
should anyone of you think that du ` aa’(supplication) for sustenance without
work will avail him, for heaven never rains gold nor silver” imam Algazali (The
Book of Provision, Chapter 1).
Some of the Verses and
ahadith on duties and rights of workers includes:
1.
Do not deprive a worker of his due and wages: “There has come to you clear
evidence from your Lord. So fulfill the measure and weight and do not deprive
people of their due and cause not corruption upon the earth after its
reformation. That is better for you, if you should be believers”.Q7:85
2.
Denying one’s wages in a great oppression: The Prophe,(SAW) was
reported to have said “Allah said, ‘I
will be an opponent to three types of people on the Day of Resurrection: one
who makes a covenant in My name but proves deceitful, one who sells a free
person and eats his price; and one who employs a worker and takes full
work from him but does not pay him for his labor'” (Al-Bukhari).
3.
It is an oppression to delay one’s due and wages:‘Abdullaahibn ‘Umar
narrated that the Prophet, said: “Pay the laborer his wages before his sweat
dries.” Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in SaheehIbnMaajah.
4.
Sincerity and giving perfect services and
output : it has been reported from
‘A’isha(RA) that the Prophet , said: “Verily, Allah loves that when
anyone of you does something he does it perfectly.”
5.
Workers or Employees are expected to
full all conditions and agreements: Allah
(SWT): {O you who have believed, fulfill [all] contracts.}[Quran 5:1]
6.
Good
intention in work place: the Prophet ,
stated in a Hadeeth: “There should be
neither harm nor reciprocal harm.” [Ahmad]
Do
good to all and you will receive thesame: The Prophet (SAW) said,“Those who
have mercy on others will receive the mercy from the Most Compassionate,
Allah. Be merciful to those in the
Earth, then the One in the Heaven, Allah, will be merciful to you”
7.
injustice turns into a
punishment and darkness in qiyama: The Prophet (SAW) said, “Beware of
committing injustice because injustice turns into a punishment of darkness on
the Day of Judgment” (Sahih Hadith)
8.
Those who fulfil their promise are praised by Allah
SWT: “Those who are faithfully true to
their trusts (all the duties which Allah has ordained, honesty, moral
responsibility and trusts) and to their covenants” (Quran 23:8)
Rights
of workers
Long
before unions were established to protect workers’ rights, Islam acknowledged a
whole set of rights for workers 1,400 years ago.
Islam
acknowledged natural rights for workers as citizens in the community and passed
many regulations that allowed social equality and the possibility of a decent
life for them and their families.
The
first basic right of a worker is the right to compensation, wages or salaries
in return for the effort applied and the time spent on the job.
.
The
right of the laborer to wages
The
wages of the laborer is a commitment on the employer, and therefore Islam
assigned great care for it. “She said, “Indeed, my father invites you that he
may reward you for having watered for us.” (Al-Qasas 28:25)
Fair
wages
The
laborer has the right to take equal and fair dues that fit his capabilities and
talents. Almighty Allah says, “and do not deprive people of their due”
(Al-A`raf 7:85)
Almighty
Allah has warned of bad outcomes for the employer if he gave his employees’
wages that do not fit their work as Allah says,
Woe
to those who give less [than due]. Who, when they take a measure from people,
take in full. But if they give by measure or by weight to them, they cause
loss. (Al-Mutaffifin 83:1-3)
Giving
out the wages on the right time
Islam
stressed that a laborer is entitled of taking his wages once he completes his
work. It was narrated from `Abdullah bin `Umar that the Messenger of Allah
(peace be upon him) said: “Give the worker his wages before his sweat dries.”
(IbnMajah) Also, Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him)
said, “Allah said, ‘I will be an opponent to three types of people on the Day
of Resurrection: One who makes a covenant in My Name, but proves treacherous;
one who sells a free person and eats his price; and one who employs a laborer
and takes full work from him but does not pay him for his labor.'” (Al-Bukhari)
The
right of the worker to offer his rituals
An
employer is asked to allow the workers to offer the rituals of worship imposed
upon them, such as prayer and fasting. It is noted that the religious
practicing worker is closer to goodness and is expected to perform his work in
sincerity and perfectness. An employer should not hinder his laborers from
worship because doing so is included in the punishment stated by the following
Qur’anic verse, Have you seen the one who forbids. A servant when he prays?
Have you seen if he is upon guidance. Or enjoins righteousness? Have you seen
if he denies and turns away. Does he not know that Allah sees? Q 96:6-14)
Therefore,
any organization or company owner’s delay in paying the salaries; is zulm and
wrong doing that can lead to various corruption and insincerities as the Prophet said: “Withholding of payment
by a rich man is wrongdoing.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (2400), Muslim (1564).
SPECIFIC
RULES AND REGULATION FOR EMPLOYEE
Prophet
Mohammed (Peace be upon him) said:“ Best earning is what is earned by the labor
of hand with sincerity”( Ahmed, Hadith No. 83 93)
While
working under an employer the following obligations to employer need due
attention:
.1
Employee is required to do his job in best possible manner and to the best
perfection for the welfare of his employerProphet Mohammed (peace be up on him
) said:
“
Allah likes a worker to be perfect in his work”
2
Employee should be loyal to employer and work for the welfare of the employer.
Employee needs to fulfill obligations to his
employer.
3.
Employee must not neglect his work nor harm employer whether he sees or
not. He should work sincerely and take
care of property of the employer.
Allah
said:
“ do
deeds! Allah will see your deeds and (so will) his messanger and the beleivers.
and you will be brought back to the “all knower” of unseen and the seen. then he will inform what you used to do”
(Q
9: verse 105)
4. Employee
needs to maintain work place safe, clean and
5.
Employee should take up his job in the
spirit of worship for the satisfaction of Allah.
In
conclusion, ,islam has basic rules and
regulations for employer and employee to run their affairs. Prophet Mohammad (SAW) practiced and also
taught these people during his time. He
founded a society where employer and employee enjoyed benefits of these basic
rules. 1400 after years from his death,
these basic rules still exists as milestone not only in Muslim nation but also
adopted by many other nations and organizations.
Praised
is due to Allah, the lord of the world.
Contact: yahyalyolawi@gmail.com
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