Concept of Labour
English Essay on "Concept of Labour" - Compositions on "Concept of Labour"
International Labour Day is celebrated on the 1st of May every year in almost all the countries of the world. In socialist countries, it is celebrated as a national festival while the capitalist countries, it is celebrated as a national festival while the capitalist countries give less importance to this day. However, like many in other developing countries it has been declared a public holiday in our country. Many people consider socialist against Islam and term it atheism. They also demand to be abolish the holiday of May Day. It seems that these religion political leaders are unaware of the teachings of Islam on this important issue. These teachings were revealed in Surah Al Najam and Al-Noor of the Holy Qurani. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) and his four Caliphs presented before the believers the practical explanation of these Quranic teachings. They were perhaps the only persons in the whole of the human history whom spite of being the heads of the state worked as ordinary labourers an some early period of his life but none of them except the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and his four Caliphs had the honour to work as ordinary labourers after assuming the charge of the highest post in the country.
The injunction about the dignity of 1abour was revealed in Surah Al-Najam. In this injunction the believers were directed that the only lawful income for them was that one which they might earn with the labour of their hands. It says: “And that man can have nothing but what he strives for.”
As a result of this injection all unearned income was declared as unlawful for the believers. In that period of history, the ownership of big tracts of lands was the major source of such unearned income. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) after declaring such income as Riba (interest) placed a ban on the sale and purchase of land. educationsight.blogspot.comHe said that all believers are the joint owners of the land of the country and they can benefit from it according to their nees.
In the light of these Quranic teachings, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) never despised. any work, however, humble, notwithstanding the dignity of his position. He worked like any ordinary labourer along with the Companions in the construction of his mosque. His active participation in digging the ditch around Al-Madina for six consecutive days proved a model for the Muslims of the coining generations. This hard labour by the Holy Prophet (PBUH) resulted into the revelation of the Quranic injunctions which contained principles for the guidance of the Muslims working men. To understand that, it is imperative that some details of Battle of the Ditch may be kept in mind.
It was in the month of Shawwal 5 A.H. that some tribes of Jews of Madina and Khaibar, conspired with the Quaraish of Makkah to attack the Muslims of Madina. They joined their forces and it became an army with Abu Sufyan as its commander-in-chief advanced towards Madina.
When the news of the advance of this army reached Madina, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) immediately summoned the Companions for consultation. Hazrat Suleman Farsi (RA) rose to his feet and said that in Persia in such a situation ditches were dug around the cities. He had some experience of this type of warfare, so it was decided that to defend Madina, a ditch on the side of the city which was not -protected by houses and hills should be dug. The ditch, 3000 yards in length and five yards deep, was dug and the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and the Companions worked a ordinary labourers while digging it.
All the Companions worked hard and in their enthusiasm sang songs and prayed for the safety of the Muslims in general. The lines for the ditch were drawn by the Holy Prophet (PBUH) himself, portions of which were allotted to different parties of the Companions- comprising of ten members each. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) in addition to the general supervision of the work, himself worked along with them. They usually went to work at dawn every day immediately after the morning prayers and came home at twilight continuously for six days.
During the digging the Companions remained each other that the time at their disposal was very short and the enemy would be soon upon them. If any one showed signs of lagging, he was at once made an object of mockery. However Hazrat Suleman Farsi (RA) was an object of admiration for he was not only strong and able-bodied but also had some practical experience of digging such ditches.
The place of work presented a beautiful scene. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) worked now with the Mujahideen and now with the Ansars, sometimes with a shovel and sometimes he worked as a carrier of the baskets containing excavated earth. Any unusual difficulty was also brought to his notice promptly and he immediately solved it personally. The Companions worked hard but there were some hypocrites who held back and began to forget their real objective. They would work slackly or even steal away to their families without the permission and the knowledge of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). Their attitude resulted into the revelation of the Quranic instruction about the dignity of labour in Islam.
The usual practice at that time was that if anybody Hadd to attend an urgent mateer, he would ask the Holy Prophet (PBUH) for permission to go. He allowed him without any hesitation and once the business was over, he would himself return to the unfinished work. He did so because of the desire to do what was right and his respect for the same. Almighty Allah was pleased with this devotion and the following the verse of the Holy Quran was revealed regarding them: “Only’ those are the believers who believe in Allah and His with him on a common work, they do not go away without asking his permission. Those who ask thy permission are they who believe in Allah and His Messenger. So when they ask permission from you for some affair of theirs, give leave to whom thou wilt of them and ask forgiveness for them from Allah. Surely Allah is Forging, Merciful.
The attitude of those who were stealing away from the site of the work or leaving without the permission of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) was pinpointed in the very next verse of this Surah as: “Make not the calling among you of the Messenger as your calling one another. Allah indeed knows those who steal away from among you, concealing themselves. So let those who go against his order, beware lest a trial afflict them or there befall them a painful chastisement.”
These two verses o(the Holy Quran contain the basic principles which are sufficient to guide the working believers in their day-today life. It has been made clear in these verses that those who attend to their work honestly and do of shirk are true believers. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) had ordered that such labourers should be paid their remuneration before their sweat dried. Those who do not attend to their work properly and instead show slackness in their work, will be treated as hypocrites. Unfortunately the majority of the Muslims workers today fall under this category. The reason for this is that they have never been told about the teachings of Islam in this respect.
The religion political leaders who were expected to guide the Muslim workers about the dignity of labour, have themselves forgotten the lesson of Islam in this respect. They for their worldly gains, have issued verdicts which legitimize unearned income. As a result, the capitalist have never hesitated in exploiting the fruit of labour of the Muslim workers. This has resulted in unrest in the society. In the light of these Islamic injunctions Muslim workers would find a great guidance to follow the Divine commands about the dignity of labour. Such a change will pave the way for an egalitarian society.
The injunction about the dignity of 1abour was revealed in Surah Al-Najam. In this injunction the believers were directed that the only lawful income for them was that one which they might earn with the labour of their hands. It says: “And that man can have nothing but what he strives for.”
As a result of this injection all unearned income was declared as unlawful for the believers. In that period of history, the ownership of big tracts of lands was the major source of such unearned income. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) after declaring such income as Riba (interest) placed a ban on the sale and purchase of land. educationsight.blogspot.comHe said that all believers are the joint owners of the land of the country and they can benefit from it according to their nees.
In the light of these Quranic teachings, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) never despised. any work, however, humble, notwithstanding the dignity of his position. He worked like any ordinary labourer along with the Companions in the construction of his mosque. His active participation in digging the ditch around Al-Madina for six consecutive days proved a model for the Muslims of the coining generations. This hard labour by the Holy Prophet (PBUH) resulted into the revelation of the Quranic injunctions which contained principles for the guidance of the Muslims working men. To understand that, it is imperative that some details of Battle of the Ditch may be kept in mind.
It was in the month of Shawwal 5 A.H. that some tribes of Jews of Madina and Khaibar, conspired with the Quaraish of Makkah to attack the Muslims of Madina. They joined their forces and it became an army with Abu Sufyan as its commander-in-chief advanced towards Madina.
When the news of the advance of this army reached Madina, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) immediately summoned the Companions for consultation. Hazrat Suleman Farsi (RA) rose to his feet and said that in Persia in such a situation ditches were dug around the cities. He had some experience of this type of warfare, so it was decided that to defend Madina, a ditch on the side of the city which was not -protected by houses and hills should be dug. The ditch, 3000 yards in length and five yards deep, was dug and the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and the Companions worked a ordinary labourers while digging it.
All the Companions worked hard and in their enthusiasm sang songs and prayed for the safety of the Muslims in general. The lines for the ditch were drawn by the Holy Prophet (PBUH) himself, portions of which were allotted to different parties of the Companions- comprising of ten members each. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) in addition to the general supervision of the work, himself worked along with them. They usually went to work at dawn every day immediately after the morning prayers and came home at twilight continuously for six days.
During the digging the Companions remained each other that the time at their disposal was very short and the enemy would be soon upon them. If any one showed signs of lagging, he was at once made an object of mockery. However Hazrat Suleman Farsi (RA) was an object of admiration for he was not only strong and able-bodied but also had some practical experience of digging such ditches.
The place of work presented a beautiful scene. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) worked now with the Mujahideen and now with the Ansars, sometimes with a shovel and sometimes he worked as a carrier of the baskets containing excavated earth. Any unusual difficulty was also brought to his notice promptly and he immediately solved it personally. The Companions worked hard but there were some hypocrites who held back and began to forget their real objective. They would work slackly or even steal away to their families without the permission and the knowledge of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). Their attitude resulted into the revelation of the Quranic instruction about the dignity of labour in Islam.
The usual practice at that time was that if anybody Hadd to attend an urgent mateer, he would ask the Holy Prophet (PBUH) for permission to go. He allowed him without any hesitation and once the business was over, he would himself return to the unfinished work. He did so because of the desire to do what was right and his respect for the same. Almighty Allah was pleased with this devotion and the following the verse of the Holy Quran was revealed regarding them: “Only’ those are the believers who believe in Allah and His with him on a common work, they do not go away without asking his permission. Those who ask thy permission are they who believe in Allah and His Messenger. So when they ask permission from you for some affair of theirs, give leave to whom thou wilt of them and ask forgiveness for them from Allah. Surely Allah is Forging, Merciful.
The attitude of those who were stealing away from the site of the work or leaving without the permission of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) was pinpointed in the very next verse of this Surah as: “Make not the calling among you of the Messenger as your calling one another. Allah indeed knows those who steal away from among you, concealing themselves. So let those who go against his order, beware lest a trial afflict them or there befall them a painful chastisement.”
These two verses o(the Holy Quran contain the basic principles which are sufficient to guide the working believers in their day-today life. It has been made clear in these verses that those who attend to their work honestly and do of shirk are true believers. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) had ordered that such labourers should be paid their remuneration before their sweat dried. Those who do not attend to their work properly and instead show slackness in their work, will be treated as hypocrites. Unfortunately the majority of the Muslims workers today fall under this category. The reason for this is that they have never been told about the teachings of Islam in this respect.
The religion political leaders who were expected to guide the Muslim workers about the dignity of labour, have themselves forgotten the lesson of Islam in this respect. They for their worldly gains, have issued verdicts which legitimize unearned income. As a result, the capitalist have never hesitated in exploiting the fruit of labour of the Muslim workers. This has resulted in unrest in the society. In the light of these Islamic injunctions Muslim workers would find a great guidance to follow the Divine commands about the dignity of labour. Such a change will pave the way for an egalitarian society.
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