ISLAM: FAIRNESS AT WORK

Employment is a binding contract which means that the employee must be given the wages and the employer must be given the work. If the employer cancels the contract before the period ends and does not demand the work, the contract is not annulled and he must pay the wages. Al-Sharh al-Kabeer (14/436), Al-Muqni.

Allah says (what means): “O you who have believed, fulfil (all) contracts”. (Q5:1), also He says: “O you who believe, Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin; and whether it be against rich or poor: For Allah can best protect both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest you swerve, and if you distort justice or decline to do justice, verily Allah is well acquainted with all that you do.” (4:135). Irrespective of creed, class or colour, Islam demands that people treat each other justly, truthfully and with dignity, honour and respect.

Employee is expected:

-To satisfy the conditions between him and the employer in what is not prohibited under Shari‘ah.

-To continue the work in person.

-Not to avoid working. For he who avoid working does not deserve to get paid.

-Not to leave work during working hours or use working hours for personal assignments except with permission.

-To be responsible for taking care of the properties and equipment which belong to the employer. And damage as a result of mistake or beyond employee’s control should be pardoned.

-To do his work in the best way possible.

-Not to harm employer.

-Not to overburden himself/herself (by the night or weekends) when he/she supposed to rest and prepare for the next working day. This apply to salary earners not those on wage. Salary earners are been paid fixed amount monthly/annually regardless of number of hour worked, and nights and weekends are part of the month/year paid for.

-You can add more of what will promote employer-employee good relationship....

Remember, Muslims are encouraged to treat everyone including your employer (Public or Private) with justice and fairness. Prophet (May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “None of you has faith unless you love for your brother what you love for yourself” - Bukhari and Muslim. And he said: “Whoever cheats us is not one of us” – Muslim

In Islam, aims of the organization are not only to maximize profit, sales or services but it is also to fashion a setting of social justice and especially good relationships between employer and employee. Islam enjoins justice and fairness in all human dealings. Objectives of seeking for employment includes: to improve the material condition of an individual, to improve morals or morality, meeting the needs of one’s family, provision for future contingencies or unforeseen event, provision for prosperity, social service and contribution for the sake of Allah and to serve as a way of attaining success in the hereafter.

However, these objectives seem unrealistic for employee today in our setting. Many employers pay less than employees’ input annually. Some employments have no future, employee work endlessly in pains hoping to see the light that will never show up. Some exploit employees just because they don’t have option(s), and at the same time employer want to achieve organizational growth. Allah says: “Woe to those who are dishonest in weighing and measuring - those who exact a full measure they receive their due from others, but give less than due when they measure or weight for them.” Q83:1. Remarkably, for a rich man to crave pretexts to avoid the fulfilment of his commitment towards the basic rights of worker is oppression. So, it is an injustice for employer to drain employees in order to satisfy own cravings.

In all divine revelations, whenever Allah give responsibility He gives right(s); if you do this, you will get this –then discipline is justly established. Many employees don’t want to be assigned responsibilities but claim their rights from employers, and vice versa. Employees’ responsibilities have been previously discussed in the earlier, and their rights are many, these include right:

1. To be given their just salaries or wages rightly in time.

2. To be paid for holiday and leave.

3. To be provided social security in case of old age or unemployment.

4. To be compensated for injury, deformity, paralysis etc

5. To be allowed to demand that the conditions of the workplace should be healthy.

6. To know, in details, nature and amount of the labour which he/she carries out and these should be fixed with a contract with certainty.

7. To be entitled to prevailing worker’s rights in the labour market.

8. To be entitled to promotion. Etc.

Islam establishes fairness, Muslims (employer or employee) are expected be fair in their dealings. May Allah enrich us ‘halal’ and grant us understanding to be able to strive towards fulfilling our responsibilities.

An admonition by Ustadh Ibrahim Albanny in FIQH CLASS

Good write up

ZillionkingLInt:
Good write up

This is nice.

Lukgaf:
ISLAM: FAIRNESS AT WORK

Employment is a binding contract which means that the employee must be given the wages and the employer must be given the work. If the employer cancels the contract before the period ends and does not demand the work, the contract is not annulled and he must pay the wages. Al-Sharh al-Kabeer (14/436), Al-Muqni.

Allah says (what means): “O you who have believed, fulfil (all) contracts”. (Q5:1), also He says: “O you who believe, Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin; and whether it be against rich or poor: For Allah can best protect both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest you swerve, and if you distort justice or decline to do justice, verily Allah is well acquainted with all that you do.” (4:135). Irrespective of creed, class or colour, Islam demands that people treat each other justly, truthfully and with dignity, honour and respect.

Employee is expected:

-To satisfy the conditions between him and the employer in what is not prohibited under Shari‘ah.

-To continue the work in person.

-Not to avoid working. For he who avoid working does not deserve to get paid.

-Not to leave work during working hours or use working hours for personal assignments except with permission.

-To be responsible for taking care of the properties and equipment which belong to the employer. And damage as a result of mistake or beyond employee’s control should be pardoned.

-To do his work in the best way possible.

-Not to harm employer.

-Not to overburden himself/herself (by the night or weekends) when he/she supposed to rest and prepare for the next working day. This apply to salary earners not those on wage. Salary earners are been paid fixed amount monthly/annually regardless of number of hour worked, and nights and weekends are part of the month/year paid for.

-You can add more of what will promote employer-employee good relationship....

Remember, Muslims are encouraged to treat everyone including your employer (Public or Private) with justice and fairness. Prophet (May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “None of you has faith unless you love for your brother what you love for yourself” - Bukhari and Muslim. And he said: “Whoever cheats us is not one of us” – Muslim

May Allah bless for the constant reminder, amin

Jazak Allah khairan op

good writeup

The general rule when working for someone else is for you to fulfill the duties of the job (contract) unless it conflicts with your religion.