رعاية العمل والعمال في الإسلام: دراسة تأصيلية شرعية في ضوء القرآن الكريم والسنة النبوية

The Protection of Work and Workers in Islam: A Foundational Sharīʿah Study in the Light of the Qurʾān and the Prophetic Sunnah

Abstract

This study aims to examine Islam’s care for work and workers and to elucidate the Sharīʿah framework governing employment relationships based on the principles of justice (ʿadl), benevolence (iḥsān), and mutual solidarity (takāful). To achieve this objective, the study adopts a qualitative library-based approach, drawing upon the Qurʾān and the Prophetic Sunnah, as well as the works of Qurʾānic exegetes, hadith commentators, and classical jurists. The study explores the status of work in Islam, highlighting its significance as an act of worship and a means of fulfilling humanity’s responsibility of cultivating the earth and realizing the divine trust of stewardship (istikhlāf). It further examines the Sharīʿah’s protection of workers’ rights through its recognition of the legitimacy of employment contracts, its prohibition of injustice and exploitation, its encouragement of fair and dignified treatment of workers, and its insistence on the prompt and complete payment of wages. In addition, the study discusses the legal and ethical responsibilities of workers in performing their duties with honesty, diligence, and integrity. Furthermore, the study demonstrates the balanced framework established by Islamic law between the rights and responsibilities of employers and employees, thereby promoting workplace stability, safeguarding human dignity, and contributing to social cohesion and sustainable economic development. The findings conclude that Islamic law anticipated many principles embodied in contemporary labour regulations by establishing a comprehensive and equitable framework for the protection of work and workers. The effective application of these Islamic values in modern workplaces has the potential to enhance productivity, reduce labour disputes, and fulfil the higher objectives (maqāṣid) of the Sharīʿah in preserving life, wealth, and human dignity.