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Holy Qur’aan Speaks —
A fortnight ago we delved into the topic on the Islamic view of workers. We highlighted that in the general teachings of the Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him) slavery was a common practice almost all over the world, before the time of the Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him).
Victorious nations of the time considered the people captured in battle as a commodity — not as human beings. They made them work for their own advantage.
The Prophet of Islam, Muhammed (peace be upon him) urged and encouraged the people to free the slaves, by declaring the freeing of slaves to be an act of the highest virtue and an act by which sins are forgiven.
Furthermore, Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him) constantly emphasised the need to adopt a policy of forgiveness with workers or servants. This is very clear from the narration of an incident that once took place when a person came to him and asked, “O Prophet of Allah! To what extent should we forgive the mistakes and faults of our servants?”
The Prophet (peace be upon him) remained silent whereupon the man repeated this question. The Prophet (peace be upon him) again remained silent and when the man asked for a third time, he replied, “Seventy times a day.”
Evidently the figure, seventy, does not denote the exact number here but it is highlighting the need to overlook and forgive the mistakes and faults of the servants as often as possible.
“Forgiving” here means that the punishment should not be inflicted on servants in a spirit of vengeance. However, there is no harm if they are taken to task with politeness with a view to correcting them, which would actually be for their own good.
It is worthy to note that on the occasion of this incident, the Prophet (peace be upon him) remained silent when the question was asked for the first two times, this should be for the reason that he wanted the questioner to realise the redundancy of his enquiry.
To forgive the mistakes of one’s servants is an act of virtue which makes one deserving of Divine mercy and Divine forgiveness hence one should always be prepared to excuse their faults, as much as possible.
Loyalty of workers/servants
Whilst enjoining the boss/master to be fair and generous in the treatment of the worker/servant, the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) also emphasised upon the workers/servants, their duty to remain faithful to their boss/master.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) is reported to have said, “It is a matter of great success and good fortune for a servant that The Almighty raises him from this world (gives him death) in such a state that he is a worshipper of the Creator (a faithful Believer) and he is loyal to his boss/master.”
The Prophet (peace be upon him) also said, “When a servant is faithful to his boss/master and also worships his Creator, he is deserving of a double reward (in the hereafter).”
The principal feature of The Holy Prophet’s teachings is that he urged each class/category of people and each individual to fulfil the rights of others with a full sense of responsibility and consider it a source of good fortune in both the worlds.
He, thus, enjoined upon the boss/master to fear The Almighty in respect of the workers/servants, (by treating them fairly and kindly) and he enjoined upon the workers/servants to be loyal and sincere to the boss/master.
For further information on Islam or a free copy of the Holy Qur’aan, please contact: Majlisul Ulama Zimbabwe, Council of Islamic Scholars.Publications Department.P.O. Box W93, Waterfalls, HarareTel: 04-614078 / 614004, Fax : 04-614003.e-mail: [email protected]
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