LABOURS’ RIGHTS IN ISLAM. (in remembrance of the world labours’ right day)

All praises are due to Allah. We praise Him, seek His help, repent unto Him and seek His forgiveness. We also seek refuge in Him from the evil of our souls and deeds. Whoever Allah guides none can mislead him, and whoever he misleads, none can guide him. I bear witness that there is no God but Allah solely without any partner. I bear witness that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is His servant and Messenger. Allah sent him when there was break in apostleship and people were disconnected from all roads that lead to guidance. Thus, Allah gave sight through him out of blindness of ignorance, He created unity after being in disunity, and granted provision of abundance after poverty and lack. O Allah bestow your salutation, peace and blessings upon him as long as the night and day alternately succeed one another, and on his families, companions, pious followers till the day of recompense. Thereafter, O servants of Allah! fear Allah and the day you shall return to Him. (يَوْمَ لاَ يَنْفَعُ مَالٌ وَلاَ بَنُون إِلاّ مَنْ أَتَى اللَّهَ بِقلْبٍ سَلِيمٍ) (الشعراء 88 - 89) “The Day whereon neither wealth nor sons will avail, "But only he (will prosper) that brings to Allah a sound heart” (26:88-89) (يَوْمَ تَجِدُ كُلُّ نفْسٍ مَا عَمِلَتْ مِنْ خَيْرٍ مُحْضرًا وما عمِلتْ مِنْ سُوءٍ تودُّ لوْ أنّ بيْنها وبيْنهُ أمدًا بعِيدًا وَيُحذِّرُكُمُ الله نَفْسهُ}(آل عمران 30). “On the Day when every soul will be confronted with all the good it has done, and all the evil it has done, it will wish there were a great distance between it and its evil. But Allah cautions you (To remember) Himself.” (3: 30) THE DIVINE WISDOM BEHIND VARIED LIVELIHOOD AMONG MANKIND O servants of Allah, it is out of Allah’s wisdom that He made variety among mankind in their characters, provisions, capabilities, wealth, poverty, faith and disbelief. Exalted is Allah; The Wise, The All-knowing in His judgement and decree. {وَمَا خَلَقْنَا السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا لاعِبِينَ مَا خَلَقْنَاهُمَا إِلاَّ بِالْحَقِّ وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لا يَعْلَمُونَ} (الدخان38- 39). The prevalent variation among people in this world is firstly a conspicuous pointer to the perfectness/ absoluteness of Allah’s might that He is able over all things. After that, there is in the variety great benefits for mankind; had mankind been on the same level in wealth or poverty, or character or achievements, it would not have achieved the intended goal and benefit but Allah is All-wise the All-knowing. {أَهُمْ يَقْسِمُونَ رَحْمَةَ رَبِّكَ نَحْنُ قَسَمْنَا بَيْنَهُمْ مَعِيشَتَهُمْ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَرَفَعْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ فَوْقَ بَعْضٍ دَرَجَاتٍ لِيَتَّخِذَ بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضًا سُخْرِيًّا وَرَحْمَةُ رَبِّكَ خَيْرٌ مِمَّا يَجْمَعُون} (الزخرف32) Allah says: “Is it they who would portion out the Mercy of thy Lord? It is We Who portion out between them their livelihood in the life of this world: and We raise some of them above others in ranks, so that some may command work from others. But the Mercy of thy Lord is better than the (wealth) which they amass.” (43: 32) Allah favourably honours some part of the creation over others so that one will be subjected to the service of the other. Exalted is Allah; The Wise, The All-knowing in His judgement and decree. ISLAMIC LEGAL PRINCIPLES IN RELATING WITH WORKERS: O Muslim brothers, on the occasion of the world day for the rights of workers, people are asking about the working relationship between the employee and the employer, and the position of the Sharia on it? What is the position of the Sharia on cheating at work and the employee? Are there systems in Islam that deal with that relationship and is prepared for that. So that things can take the right track and take away injustice and aggression from everyone. Therefore trust becomes implanted in the hearts of the employee, it thus prevents the employer from injustice and tyranny is? We say: Yes, the Shariah of Allah came with what will actualize human happiness in this world and the hereafter, the right balance and moderation in all circumstances, firstly, in terms of the worker and the employer, Islam came to achieve this interest for both parties: 1- Working in Sharia has dignity and merit, and the income earned through working is the best earning. The prophet (PBUH) says: (The best of a man’s wealth is his earning from his handiwork and that of every good sale.) (related by Ahmed Al-tabaraani and Al-haakim and Al-bayhaqi) The best earning the servant of Allah could have is product from his labour and sweat, that is his pride, honour and virtues, that is also best for him than to ask people and humiliate himself. In an hadith (If any of you takes his rope and came with firewood, sells it, and then profit himself through it, that is better for him than to ask people either they give him or prevent him) (agreed from the hadeeth of Abu hurayrah) A worker is dignified as he discharge his duty with honesty and sincerity and fears Allah, hence his earnings then is good, honourable, accompanied by self dignity, self-esteem and saving it from humiliation, disgrace, begging people and resorting to them. 2. Allah commands the employee and the employer to adhere to the obligations of the contract between them. Allah said: {يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَوْفُوا بِالْعُقُودِ} (المائدة1) {O you who believe fulfil (all) contracts} (5: 1) The employer should abide by the contract signed between him and the employee in the payment of the wages, job description, amount of work so that it is clear to everyone. The employer is required to carry out the contract between him and the employee in totality because it is a trust. And if he deviate from it then that will be treacherous; an act of hypocrites who lies when they speak, they break their promises and betray trusts. It is obligatory on the employee to abide by the terms of agreement with all trust, truth and sincerity. If both parties adhere to these terms of agreement then, things will sail smoothly with the grace of God. 3. Also, Islam encourages the employer to pay the employee his wages on time, the prophet (PBUH) said: “Pay the employee his wages before his sweat dries” (Al-bayhaqi in the Sunan). Procrastinating the workers, delaying their rights and entitlements for many months despite the employer’s full capability to pay, but due to complacency, fraudulent manipulations and exploiting the money for his interests. The workers will be expecting their entitlements but he does not care. Even some confront them with their grievances, or become compelled to relinquish some of their rights wrongfully, and these had bad and severe consequences. 4. Also, it forbidden on him to deprive him of any of his having discharged their duty. In the hadith the prophet (PBUH) said: (Allah said: “I am the opponent to three persons and whoever I am to him an opponent, I defeat him: he mentioned of them: (a man who sold a freeborn and ate the gain from it, and a man who employed people, he got his right from them, but he did not give them their rights, and a man who had a covenant with Me but betrayed” (narrated by Al-bukhaari in chapter on leasing) Allah is an opponent to these men on the day of resurrection; an opponent to the employer who suffers the employee, he got his full right from him, and then procrastinates, denies, and deal unjustly with his right, and hide from him, come up with tricks, deception, fraud and cover ups that are actually conspicuous. Allah encompasses and sees him and his secrecies. GIVING WORKERS’ THEIR RIGHTS LEADS TO ACCEPTANCE OF PRAYERS. Servants of God, there are commendations to the employer who discharge his obligation in the Islamic law. Giving the workers their rights in honesty leads to acceptance of prayer and deliverance from tribulations and crises. The prophet (PBUH) tells us a story of the three who sought shelter at night in a cave. A big rock rolled down the mountain and closed the mouth of the cave. They could not move it and no one knew nothing about them. And when they became powerless and unable to achieve anything, they looked up to Allah and seek a means to Him by their good deeds. They were three, one of them said: "O Allah! I employed few labourers and I paid them their wages with the exception of one man who did not take his wages and went away. I invested his wages and I got much property thereby; camels, cows, sheep, slaves and farm land. (Then after some time) he came and said to me: O Allah's slave! Pay me my wages. I said to him: All the camels, cows, sheep, slaves and farm land you see, are yours. He said: “Are you mocking at me? I said: “I am not mocking at you”. And he said: “O Allah” So, he took all the herd and drove them away and left nothing. O Allah! If I did that for Your Sake only, please relieve us from the present suffering.' So, that rock shifted completely and they got out walking. (narrated by Al-bukhaari in chapter on leasing and Muslim in chapter on Dhikr and Prayer). Thus is the reward of the truthful ones, with sincere, honest treatment among people. The consequence of non-performance of rights: The opposite is the dealing with the person who deny rights deservingly he gets destruction in earnings and loss in his business, in addition to what is awaits him in the sight of Allah including chastisement and the curse of the oppressed. The prayer of the oppressed meet the opening of the gates of the heaven and accepted by Allah. Allah said: “By My might, I shall defend you even if it be after a while” (narrated by Ahmad and Al-tirmidhi). There is no partition between the prayer of the oppressed and Allah as said by Mu’aadh: “And fear the prayer of the oppressed, there is no partition between it and Allah” (narrated by Al-bukhaari and Muslim) Dear Muslims, it is obligatory on the Government to fear Allah as they employ workers; both men and women. The fear of Allah in the covenant that is between her and Allah. Firstly is to know or recognize their needs and recognize their poverty status, and to treat them with kindness in all matters. The prophet (PBUH) said: “Your brothersyou’re your slaves, Allah put them under you, and whoever Allah place his brother under him, let him feed him from what he eats, and cloth hin from what he wears, do not assign to them what they cannot capable to do, but if you do, then, assist them with it” (narrated by Al-bukhaari and Muslim). And you should not betray them, Allah says: {إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَنْ تُؤَدُّوا اْلأَمَانَاتِ إِلَى أَهْلِهَا وَإِذَا حَكَمْتُمْ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ أَنْ تَحْكُمُوا بِالْعَدْلِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ نِعِمَّا يَعِظُكُمْ بِهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ سَمِيعًا بَصِيرًا} (النساء : 58) Allah doth command you to render back your Trusts to those to whom they are due; And when ye judge between man and man, that ye judge with justice: Verily how excellent is the teaching which He giveth you! For Allah is He Who heareth and seeth all things. (4: 58) { يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَخُونُوا اللَّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ وَتَخُونُوا أَمَانَاتِكُمْ وَأَنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ }(الأنفال27). O ye that believe! betray not the trust of Allah and the Messenger, nor misappropriate knowingly things entrusted to you. (8: 27) From this perspective, we join our voice from this Minbar with those who are demanding their rights from the Trade Union of workers and professionals in various States of Nigeria in particular, and the world at large. May Allah benefit you and I with the Holy Qur'aan, and the guidance of the leader of the apostles (PBUH), Having said my message, I seek Allah’s forgiveness for me and you and all Muslims, from all sins, engage in seeking forgiveness from Him, He is All-forgiving, Most- merciful. THE SECOND SERMON All praises are due to Allah the Lord of the universe, He guided us to Islam, thereby making us among the best nation ever evolved for mankind, if we sincerely hold unto it. I bear witness that there is no God but Allah alone with no partner, I testify that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. May the salutations and peace of our Lord be upon him, his families, and all his companions. Dear Muslims, know that honour is earn through true faith and good work. {ولِلَّهِ الْعِزَّةُ وَلِرَسُولِهِ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ} (االمنافقون 8) { But honour belongs to Allah and His Messenger, and to the Believers} (63:8) Allah does not give honour to the lazy and weak people, but to the believers who do good works, Allah says: {وَلَقَدْ كَتَبْنَا فيِ الزَّبُورِ مِنْ بَعْدِ الذِّكْرِ أنَّ اْلأرْضَ يَرثُهَا عِبَادِيَ الصَّالِحُونَ إِنَّ فيِ هَذَا لَبَلاَغاً لِقَوْمٍ عَابِدِينَ}(الأنبياء 105-106). {Before this We wrote in the Psalms, after the Message (given to Moses): My servants the righteous, shall inherit the earth. Verily in this (Qur'an) is a Message for people who would (truly) worship Allah.} (21: 105-106). We see in this verse that Allah makes the inheritance of the Earth for the His believing servants who are described as righteous. Good and righteous works are products of sincere faith, life goes on in it, the earth becomes developed after goodness of the hearts, and life becomes organized, the source of wealth will be for all people, the system will be effectively productive, and there will be increase in blessings in all areas of life. Thus it will be inevitable that work must be stem from sound doctrine within a spiritual atmosphere, producing and not destroying, reforming and not corrupting, and actualizing benefits and good for all the people. O Allah grant honour to Islam and Muslims, and humiliate idolatry and idolaters, protect the possession of religion, humiliate the enemies of the religion. O Allah grant us security in our country- Nigeria, make this country safe, secured, generous, comfortable, and all other Muslim countries. O Allah, grant victory to your religion and your book and your Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and your righteous servants. Oh God, make our leaders merciful to us, and guide them to the truth, O Lord of the universe.