The rights and dignity of workers in the light of Islam
Md. Zillur Rahaman
The First of May is considered as the great May Day. The day is celebrated to establish the rights of working people all over the world. In the year 1886, workers at the Hay Market in Chicago, USA, went on strike demanding eight hours of work. On that day, some workers had to give their lives in the movement for the establishment of rights. Since then, the day has been celebrated with due respect and dignity all over the world as 'May Day'.
The importance of International Workers' Day or May Day in establishing the rights and dignity of workers in Islam is immense. There are clear instructions in the Quran and Hadith to establish the rights of the workers. Everything that has developed in the world to this day is the result of labor and the achievement of labor. Islam has rightly valued labor and workers and it is the only religion that has introduced principles and rules to ensure the rights of workers.
In the lights of Islam, the sovereignty and ownership of wealth belongs entirely to Allah, and man is only his guardian. So the owners and workers here are all brothers. Their relationship will be full of respect, affection, friendship and loyalty. Both the worker and the owner have the right to understand their due. Both have been asked to be responsible for their respective duties. Not just the owner or just the worker; rather, it instructed both to behave in a coordinated manner.
There are many guidelines in Islam about the dignity and rights of workers. Encouraging labor, the Holy Qur’an says, ‘Then when the prayer is completed, spread out on the ground and remember Allah much, that you may be successful '(Surah Jumu'ah, verse 10). It has been narrated in the hadith, ‘Legal (Halal) earning is obligatory duty after obligatory acts of worship’ (Tirmidhi). ‘It is the best of the halal earnings, which is earned by manual labor’ (Muslim).
In Islam, workers and employers call each other brothers and Islam basically eliminates class and caste discrimination. However, in the name of eliminating class inequality, Islam has not denied the intellectual, labor and social status of the owner and entrepreneur. Did not impose any repressive measures, rather, it has tried to awaken in him human values and compassion for the workers. It has been narrated in the Holy Qur'an that Allah has made some of you superior to others in their livelihood. Those who have been given superiority do not give their subordinates anything from their livelihood so that they become equal to them. But do they deny the favor of Allah? (Surah Nahl, verse 71). In the above verse, just as the superiority of the owner is acknowledged, so also his notion of egoism and class discrimination is condemned. Besides, the real ownership of wealth and being able to acquire it has been reminded that it is the grace of Allah alone. As if he is focusing on the protection of the dignity and rights of the workers from the place of human values.
Although Islam recognizes the classification of labor, everyone is equal in terms of human values and basic human rights. Rasulullah (PBUH) encouraged business, agriculture and religion. Again in the case of dignity all workers are generally declared equal. He said that working people are friends of creator. Islam tells workers to be efficient, faithful and responsible. Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) himself looked after the business of Maa Khadija (RA) as a loyal worker. In the Qur'an, the characteristics of Hazrat Musa (AS) as an ideal worker are described in this way, O Father! You hire him as a worker. Surely he is the best of your workers, the one who is capable and faithful. (Surah Qasas, verse 26) In the next verse, there is a description of determining the wages of Musa (AS) who was appointed along with Shoaib (AS). He later instructed to fix the wages first with the consent of both to avoid disputes. The superiority and uniqueness of Islamic labor policy lies in the fact that Islam has prescribed uniform food and clothing for employers and workers. In the light of these guidelines, it is understood that Islam speaks of a high-minded labor policy, where the standard of living of the workers is ensured. Rasulullah (PBUH) said, they are your brothers and Allah has made them subservient to you. So let him who has subjugated his brother feed him as he eats, clothe him as he clothes. Don't give him more work than he can handle. If he has to do that, let him help her. (Bukhari, Hadith 5617).
Islam has declared begging and divorce legal, but at the same time it has been described as extremely disliked. Narrated Anas (RA), A man came to the Prophet (PBUH) and asked him for alms. He asked, 'Do you have anything?' He said, 'I have a blanket.' The Prophet said, 'Go with the blanket and come on. When he brought the blanket, the Prophet sold it at auction for two dirhams. The Prophet bought an ax with one dirham and gave it to the family to provide food for the family. He instructed the man to cut wood and earn money. (Bukhari and Muslim).
All the prophets earned their livelihood through physical labor. Our beloved Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) has long worked in the company of Maa Khadija (RA) with honesty, fidelity and devotion. Hazrat Noah (AS) worked as a carpenter, Hazrat Idris (AS) used to do sewing. The father of Hazrat Sulaiman (AS), the Prophet and the emperor Hazrat Dawood (AS) used to make a living by working in blacksmith. Even Hazrat Musa (AS) has worked in the farm of Prophet Shuaib (AS) for 8-10 years. None of them disregarded the work, but rather accepted it as Rizik's (living ingredients) decision.
Salary and remuneration is the fair right of the employee. Islam has instructed to realize it as soon as possible. The Prophet (PBUH) said, Pay the wages of the workers before the sweat dries (Ibn Majah, Hadith 24430). In another hadith, lingering has been described as unjust in terms of remuneration and due rights. The Prophet (PBUH) said, lingering or fraudulence is injustice of rich person (Sahih Bukhari, Hadith 2287). In other words, it is wrong to delay the payment of human rights and entitlements despite having the means. And it is a terrible crime to be deprived of salary, allowances and due rights on the pretext of thin. The Prophet (PBUH) said, "On the Day of Resurrection, I will be against three people." - And he hired someone who understood the work from him but did not give him what he deserved (Bukhari, Hadith 2227). Only Islam has given such a balanced labor policy for the rights and human dignity of the workers and the services due to the employer.
In the Farewell speech of Hajj Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) said, every Muslim is a brother. Beware of your male and female slaves. Let them eat what you eat, let them wear whatever you wear. Will forgive their sins, will not punish them. At the end of the speech, the last verse of the Quran was revealed. ‘I have fulfilled your deen (religious) on this day. I have completed My blessings upon you. I have chosen Islam as your religion (Surah Maeda verse 3).
Cheating workers is the worst sin of Islam; On the contrary, the instruction of Islam is that even if the worker is not aware of what he deserves, the employer will explain to him what he deserves. The hadith says, "Whoever denies his rightful due, Allah will make Paradise forbidden to him" (Muslim). So let us all commit ourselves to building a harmonious society by realizing the fair rights and entitlements of the workers.
The writer is a banker and columnist .He can be reached at zrbbbp@gmail.com
