10 Fundamental Rights of Workers in Islam
The following lines present 10 essential rights that safeguard workers’ dignity and fulfill their needs:
1. Fair Wages Without Delay
In Islam,
wages follow the principle of justice, meaning the worker receives a fair wage
suitable for his profession without underpayment, even if others accept less
due to job scarcity. It is not permissible for an employer to delay or postpone
paying the due wage.
Abdullah Ibn `Umar reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Give the hireling his wages before his sweat dries.”
(Narrated by Al-Albani)
This prophetic command forbids delaying a worker’s rightful pay — so what about
those who consume or withhold it entirely? That is one of the major sins.
Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported God’s Messenger as saying
that God most high has Said, “There are three
whose adversary I shall be on the day of resurrection: A man who gave a promise
in my name then acted faithlessly; a man who sold a free man and enjoyed the
price he received for him; and a man who hired a servant and, after receiving
full service from him, did not give him his wages.” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari)
And Allah
Says, {Do not defraud people of their property.} [Hud
11:85]
2. The Worker’s Dignity
Comes Before His Skill
A worker
is a human being first, not a servant imprisoned under the employer. Allah Says,
{Indeed, We have dignified the children of Adam.} [Al-Isra
17:70]
The Prophet (peace be upon him) described workers as brothers, not
slaves.
Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported
that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Your
slaves are your brothers. Allah has placed them under your authority. He who
has his brother under him, should feed him from whatever he eats, and dress him
with whatever he wears, and do not burden them (assign burdensome task to them)
beyond their capacity; and if you burden them then help them, but sell those
who do not please you and do not punish Allah's creatures” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
The
Prophet (peace be upon him) embodied the perfect example of kindness to
workers. Anas Ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “I served the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) for
ten years, and, by Allah, he never said to me any harsh word, and he never said
to me about a thing as to why I had done that and as to why I had not done
that.” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari
and Muslim)
3. No Burden Except Within
Ability
Some
employers try to extract every drop of strength before giving the worker his
agreed wage, overburdening him beyond his capacity.
Allah Says, { Allah does not require of any soul more than what it can afford.} [Al-Baqarah
2:286]
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “And do
not burden them (assign burdensome task to them) beyond their capacity; and if
you burden them then help them.” (Narrated
by Al-Bukhari)
4. A Safe and Protected
Work Environment
In Islam,
human life is sacred. A worker has the right to a safe work environment with
all necessary means of protection and care. Negligence is a crime against
humanity before it is a legal violation.
There must be proper safety tools at the workplace, and workers must be fully
trained regarding dangers that may arise in their tasks.
5. The Right to Perform Worship on Time
A worker
has the right to stop working to pray on time or to break his fast if he is
fasting. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said to Salman and Abu Ad-Darda’: “You owe a duty to your Rubb, you owe a duty to your
body; you owe a duty to your family; so you should give to every one his due.” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari)
6. Care for Workers During
Illness or Incapacity
Workers
vary depending on their profession. Some work until reaching a certain age and
then retire. It becomes obligatory upon the employer to provide protection once
the worker reaches an age where he can no longer work.
Others work temporarily or until completing a specific project. If such a
worker is injured, becomes ill, or unable to continue, the employer must not
abandon him to poverty.
Allah Says, {And in their wealth there was a
rightful share ˹fulfilled˺ for
the beggar and the poor.} [Adh-Dhariyat 51:19]
Social protection is not a favor from the employer, it is a right Allah has Obligated.
It is part of Islamic social solidarity
that preserves the worker’s dignity in weakness, need, or incapacity,
reflecting the soul of the Muslim Ummah strengthening one another.
7. Justice and Equality
Allah
Says, { Indeed, Allah commands justice and grace.}
[An-Nahl 16:90]
Justice among
workers does not mean identical wages for different jobs, but equal opportunity
for employment without racism or favoritism.
No one is superior to another except through piety and righteous deeds.
The aim is not equality in wealth but equality in that enable a person to build
his life and contribute to the development of his society according to his
capabilities.
As Dr. Hatem Abdul-Mun`im said: “It’s natural that outcomes and returns will
differ from one individual to another, and complete equality in wealth or
results will never occur. But what matters most is granting all citizens access
to quality education, as well as providing healthcare, job opportunities, and
public rights.”
8. The Right to Training,
Education, and Preparation
Excellence is a
duty upon the worker. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Verily, Allah loves that when anyone of you does a job
he should perfect it.” (Narrated
by At-Tabarani)
For a worker to reach excellence, he must be properly trained, especially in
new fields.
Training and skill development are a right for the worker and a responsibility
for the employer or institution.
9. Participation in
Decision-Making
Allah
Says, {And consult with them in ˹conducting˺ matters.} [Ali `Imran 3:159]
The principle of consultation (Shura) in
Islam includes everyone, even the simplest worker.
A worker may notice what the employer overlooks, particularly if he is skilled
or experienced in the field.
A worker is not a “cog in the economic machine,” but a human being with insight
and experience.
10.
Preserving the Worker’s Dignity Even
After Service Ends
As
dignity must not be violated during work, it must also be preserved after the
work ends. Allah Says, {And do not forget kindness
among yourselves.} (Al-Baqarah 2:237)
The worker should remain honored after years of service. In Islamic culture,
human value is constant, not diminished with age or retirement.
Elders who served society must be given higher respect and appreciation.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “He who
does not thank the people is not thankful to Allah.” (Narrated by At-Tirmidhi)
For Further Reading:
- Economy of the Poor: From Confrontation to Organization (Part 2)
- Obligation of Thinking in The Quran
- Quranic Vision for Human Interaction
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