The Value of work and the rights of workers in Islam
Muslims, Allah has wisdom to verify the position of human beings in life. There are rich and poor, scholars and students, strong and weak; there are also workers and employers. The reason behind this wisdom is to make people need each other and benefit from each other's jobs. People would not have been in need of one another if they were equal.
Allah's reason for creating people in ranks so they would need each other. Allah says ''Is it they who would portion out the Mercy of your Lord? It is We Who portion out between them their livelihood in this world, and We raised some of them above others in ranks, so that some may employ others in their work. But the Mercy (Paradise) of your Lord (O Mohammad) is better than the (wealth of this world) which they amass.''
If people were all equal then it means that many tasks would not be accomplished. People's need for each other does not mean that some are better than the others. Allah would reward them according to their actions and not according to who has a better job than the other. Allah says '' We shall not make the reward of anyone who does his (righteous) deeds in the most perfect manner to be lost.''
Servants of Allah, The principles of the Islamic urge us to be kind to our fellow workers and treat them with compassion. Islam and its humane principles preserve their dignity and protect them. The Messenger of Allah says ''your brothers are under your patronage. Allah has put them in your hands. If one's brother was within his hands he must feed him from what he eats, allow him to wear what he wears. You should not let them perform chores they cannot do. Otherwise, help them''
Brothers in Islam, we must all be aware that the messenger had made it clear that it is forbidden to let labourers work more than they can. We are not allowed to tire them and exhaust them. Employers must not be unjust and not grant labourers their rights.
Brothers of faith, it is not permitted for us as Muslims to hit and abuse these labourers or servants. Abu Masod Al Dorri said ''I was hitting a servant once and I heard a voice behind me saying ''Be sure Abu Masod that Allah is stronger than you'' When I turned around, He was Our Master Mohammed (pbuh). So I said "O Messenger of Allah he is free." And he said ''If you have not done that, the fire of hell might have touched you.''
Also the Prophet (pbuh) said, "Pay the wages of a laborer before his sweat dries up."
That is why Muslims we must not be unjust Allah says ''And We shall set up balances of justice on the Day of Resurrection, then none will be dealt with unjustly in anything. And if there be the weight of a mustard seed, we will bring it. And Sufficient are we to take account.''
Brothers of faith, it is our duty as Muslims to understand that those people who work for us are poor and we must be gentle with them. We must correct their mistakes and help them.
It is the rights of workers that their employees give them their wages immediately. They should not be given tasks they cannot do. If they did, they must be helped.
Thank Allah for blessing us with Islam and his prophet (pbuh)
I say this and ask Allah to forgive you and I.
