The Ideal Muslim Employer

By Abdullahi Jamaa
Allah praised the just master, the man who doesn’t boast about his wealth, the man who doesn’t walk on earth with pride, the man who treats people of all ages, gender, race and religion equally.

Allah also cursed the unjust master, the man who boast about his wealth, the man who walks on earth with pride, the man who mistreats people and animals alike.

Employing people means seeking people’s assistance. It means independence for workers. It means supporting employees and many a times protecting them.

Employing people doesn’t mean owning people. It doesn’t mean enslaving workers. It doesn’t mean frustrating and sometimes assaulting them.

Employees form part of a special group of people that are possessed by the right hand. This right hand is protective, it is merciful and compassionate. It follows the right path of justice and fidelity to the rules of Allah.

Labourers are not supposed to be handled with an iron hand. The hand that neglects, the hand that is merciless and unsympathetic. The hand that follows the path of injustice and vacillation to the rules of Satan.

Allah, the Almighty, have clearly stated in the Holy Quran that He created a ranking order among human beings as a way to satisfy man’s worldly desires.

“Do they distribute the mercy of your Lord? It is We who have apportioned among them their livelihood in the life of this world and have raised some of them above others in degrees [of rank] that they may make use of one another for service. But the mercy of your Lord is better than whatever they accumulate.” (Quran 43:32]

Ideal employer

The ideal Muslim employer is a man or woman of faith. A person who understands and appreciates the role of others in their life. A person who knows that there is a day of judgement.

On that day of judgement, finally, people will be gathered back to their Lord and will be questioned if they violated the rights of Allah’s creation and particularly their fellow human beings.

Thus, workers must be treated with dignity and honour regardless of the kind of work they are performing, as long as this work is lawful.

The Prophet (SAW) said: “He upon whom his brother has a right, be it of the nature of money or honor, let him compensate for it before he is made to compensate for it on a day when there will be neither dinar nor dirham to deal with. Instead, if he has a good deed in his account it will be taken away from him and given to the person he had wronged. And if he has no good deeds in his account, sins of the other person will be taken from him and added to his account”

The ideal Muslim employer espouses good human values. He is a person who knows where the buck stops at, a person who differentiates rights from responsibilities. A person who respects the rights of others.

The qualities of a good Muslim employer is all about piety and morality, the bedrock of a staunch Muslim. In simple terms, it really means being a good practicing Muslim, a believer of Islam, the religion of peace and justice.

Islam stresses the need for a cordial work relationship between employer and employee. A relationship that is based on brotherhood, one that mutually defines the Islamic spirit of humanity.

Prophet Muhammad (SAW) infused justice and dignity in all the people that he worked with throughout his prophethood career.

He worked both as employer and employee. He performed each duty with highest standards of discipline.  As an employer, he used to sit on the floor and eat with his servant boy Anas ibn Malik, who served him for ten years.

Anas is reported to have said that the Prophet (SAW) never rebuked him for anything.  “When I did something, he never questioned my manner of doing it; and when I did not do something, he never questioned my failure to do it. He was the most good-natured of all men.”

The prophet (SAW) used to discipline people in the most humane approach. He used the tool of mercy, to influence, to direct, to control and manage people and resources.

Taking good care of employees is a religious duty, a deeply entrenched practice of prophet Muhammad (SAW).  It is an act of honour, praised and preserved through the noble history of Islam.

An employer is expected to respect, guard and honour the rights of employees. It is a huge responsibility that lies squarely on the shoulders of masters. A true test of faith.

Neglecting their rights therefore is a remorseful violation of the teachings of Islam, a disobedience to the orders of Allah and a deviation from the pristine tradition of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

Mistreatment of animals will take people to hell and so mistreatment of human being will take people to the lowest suctions of hell.

One has to guard himself against inflicting any injustice, big or small to a worker.  Within the context of Islamic teachings, no amount of employee’s indiscipline warrants cruelty and injustice.

Islamic rules of employer-employee engagement calls for a level playing ground. The master however must ensure always that the scale of justice should be lighter on the side of vulnerable employee.

A lot more responsibilities lies on the employer than the employee, because the employer is stronger than the vulnerable employee.

Within the circles of Islamic belief which considers that the strong should take care of the weak, the employer is the guarantor of justice when it comes to employment.

A positive attitude is required in presuming the role of an ideal Muslim employer. This progressive attitude includes having a great feeling for humanity, taking people as vulnerable creatures and the belief that nobody is perfect expect Allah.

This prophetic hadith truly demonstrates how our life with others including employees should be handled.

“None of you will belief until you love for your brother what you love for yourself. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Everybody requires a happier life that is free of worries. Freedom and independence are two real-life issues that humans have to content with in all their life.

The struggle for sustenance and livelihood may make an employed person an exposed being. The person without freedom and independence may feel insecure.

Working for others is one way of earning an honourable living, yet if the employer deprives his subject the basic freedom and independence, his actions will certainly violate the basic doctrine of Islam.

An employee who works in an environment of harassment, an atmosphere of negativity and rejections will transform to be an unproductive one.

Likewise if a person works in an ideal situation, a place of positivity and reaffirmations, that person becomes invigorated and supportive.

Apart from Islam, modern scientific studies have shown that supportive bosses make the best of employers while the unsupportive ones spoil the broth.

Salaries and wages

To avoid falling into pitfalls of injustice and to trace the paragon of justice, a Muslim employer is commanded to have a contractual agreement with a worker.

A written agreement will protect the right of every party. With both parties been signatories to the agreement, violations of each other’s rights will be minimal or non-existent all together.

A written contract will also help in resolving employment disputes that may arise in future. It dictates the terms of reference in an elaborate manner free from confusion.

Among other details, the agreement should clearly specify job descriptions and expected remuneration and the expiry of the term of employment.

Islam commands written agreements in all business engagements. It also directs every party to honour and fulfil contracts.

Remunerate your staff adequately. Wages should be in tandem with the scale and scope of work one does.  Indifference between the amount and the workload may render somebody exploited.

It is an honourable thing to pay staff on time as agreed in employment contract. Any delay may cause difficulty to the employee. It may deprive a person the right to buy basic necessities like food.

“………………..Do not withhold from the people the things that are their due” Quran 7:85

The practice of paying labourers on time has been repeatedly commanded by the prophet (SAW.) It is a highly regarded practice to shield any ensuing injustice from a defenceless labourer.

Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Umar (RA) said: The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: “Give the worker his wages before his sweat dries.”

The wisdom behind the payment of wages on time before their sweats dries is one that highlights the importance of been merciful. Allah said in the quran:

“The merciful are shown mercy by the All-Merciful.   Show mercy to those on earth, and He Who is in heaven will show mercy unto you”

The prophet (SAW) was very strict with his companions when it came to employing people. On wages of labourers he warned us against short-changing of employees.

Narrated Abu Huraira (RA) that the Prophet (SAW) 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 labourer and takes full work from him but does not pay him for his labour.” Bukhari :: Book 3 :: Volume 36 :: Hadith 470.

It is therefore a grave sin to underpay or not to pay at all a labourer. It is also affront to decency and common sense to expect somebody to work for you without pay.

Timely payment is the right and reward for excellent job done. Withholding wages from employees or delaying paying their salaries is slavery.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: ‘Your employees are your brothers upon whom Allah has given you authority, so if a Muslim has another person under his control, he/she should not overburden them with what they cannot bear and if you do so, help them in their jobs.’  [Al Bukhari]

Treating your subjects like brothers means treating them with nobility and admiration. Brothers are treated with unceasing love, whether or not they make a small or grave mistake, their brotherliness still holds a big place.

Don’t assign workers to endless workloads that they can’t bear. Just as much as you can’t bear, they too can’t. Overburdening can be physical or psychological. Both are not allowed in Islam.

Workers should not be overburdened and overwhelmed with work. They have the right to have both physical and mental rest.

The Prophet (PBUH) also said, “Whoever lightens the work of his workers will have the reward on his scales.”

They are also to be given time to offer their prayers. Indeed, when workers know that they fulfil their rights to their creator they will be more enthused to perform their work with higher efficiency. Again, it is win-win for the employer and the employee.

General welfare of an employee is a moral responsibility of an employer. During the reign of Umar Ibn Al-kataab, the second caliph, the Islamic government then propagated for the introduction of pension for retirees.

Old age pension was implemented. Omar is reported to have said:   “It is far from being humane to let one go helpless in old age after getting service from him in his youth”.

Islam established the rights of workers long before the rise of contemporary pressure groups and workplace activism. Allah doesn’t want his creatures to be abused and exploited. In the Quran the almighty has ordered for fair treatment for all.

Allah commands, fairness, equity, justice and excellence. He directs benevolence towards people, graciousness in dealings while He forbids transgressions, exploitation or violating others’ rights.

“O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm in justice, witnesses for Allah, even if it be against yourselves or parents and relatives. Whether one is rich or poor, Allah is more worthy of both. So follow not [personal] inclination, lest you not be just. And if you distort [your testimony] or refuse [to give it], then indeed Allah is ever, with what you do, Acquainted. (Quran 4:135)

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