Humans are social beings and we interact daily in dealings that shall end up in the fulfillment of our needs. Transactions are being made daily where services and products are being exchanged for a legal tender or money that is more or less equivalent to the value of the product or service offered. Fair dealings are expected in each and every one of these transactions to secure a society that is orderly where no one’s rights in his sale or purchase shall be violated.
For products, it is quite easy to understand how people must pay money up front or on agreed upon terms as these items are being procured by the buyer from the seller due to his need that must be fulfilled or the utility that it provides. It is therefore quite easy to justify paying high prices for a smartphone that satisfies your needs because its physical nature is easily quantifiable.
But for services, often, it is a different ball game altogether. People often do not know the value of services rendered to them by others that they undervalue or devalue it by paying less or not even paying. Being satisfied in any service is subjective depending upon the level of gratitude of the customer or client. This leads to the sad reality of workers’ rights being trampled upon, not only among Muslims but among mankind as a whole.
JUSTICE AND FAIR DEALINGS
Allah said in the Quran, “O you who believe, stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even 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. Quran 4:135
Prophet Muhammad said, “O people, indeed your Lord is one and your father is one. Behold, there is no superiority for an Arab over a non-Arab, nor for a non-Arab over an Arab, nor for a white person over a black person, nor for a black person over a white person, except through piety.” Narrated by Imam Ahmad.
Selfishness, greed or even plain disregard could make any person step on other people’s rights and defraud them by not giving them is due to them. Fortunately, Islam has enacted laws that shall protect the rights of laborers and workers through Quranic and prophetic injunctions that protect the mutual rights of people.
Islam shuns selfishness through Prophet Muhammad’s saying, “None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother that which he loves for himself.” Narrated by Imam Al Bukhari.
Allah made a clear warning in the Quran against greed, “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. Do they not think that they will be resurrected?” Quran 83:1-4
And Allah made another warning against being unwary of
good deeds and bad deeds by reminding us that every little thing we say and do
shall be rewarded and punished, “So whoever does an atom's weight of
good will see it, and whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it.” Quran
99:7-8.
HOW TO SAFEGUARD WORKER’S RIGHTS FURTHER
Other than the general Islamic laws that are mentioned above, the following are some of the things that
could you to be just to your workers. These will also ensure that your employer or client is being just to
you.
1. Agreements and contracts: Agreements and contracts should be made before any sale or work is
done in order to protect both parties from being taken advantage of. And if ever any discrepancy occurs,
they could both look at this agreement as a reference in order to arrive at a peaceful settlement of their
dispute. Contracts and agreements must be clear and unambiguous. It must contain the services to be
given and must contain all the conditions that must be met. After these, terms of payment must be
mentioned too. You may even consult a labor expert in making these. Allah said in the Quran, “O
believers, fulfill your contracts.” Quran 5:1.
2. Protection: In Islam, any contract should be made to secure not only the money or property but to
secure everything that Islam protects: the religion, life, intellect, money, and dignity of workers. Fair
dealings with employees are not only about paying their labor but also by securing that they work in an
environment that they are physically safe from job site hazards and they are not abused physically or
verbally by anyone. Allah said, “Serve Allah and make not any partners with Him in His divinity. Do good
to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, those in need, neighbors who are near, neighbors who are strangers, the
companion by your side, the wayfarer you meet and your workers: for Allah loves not the arrogant, the
vainglorious. Nor those who are stingy, or enjoin stinginess on others, or hide the bounties which Allah
has bestowed on them; for We have prepared, for those who are ungrateful, a humiliating punishment.”
Quran 4:36-37. A client or employee must be kind to his
employees.
3. Wages: Wages should be given in proper amounts to the labor or service provider according to the
standard in your area or even better and what has been agreed upon. Allah said, “O my people, worship
Allah; you have no other god but Him. Now has come unto you a Clear Signs from your Lord. Give just
measure and weight, nor withhold from the people the things that are their due, and do no mischief on
the earth after it has been set in order: that will be best for you if you have Faith.” Quran 7:85
Prophet Muhammad said, ““Give the worker his wages before his sweat dries.” Narrated by Ibn Maja.
This is an injunction that wages should be given in a timely manner.
