Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said, “A Muslim is a brother of another Muslim.” I believe the prophet was teaching us that we should treat each other as brothers irrespective of one’s complexion/colour, tribe or financial status. On whether we Muslims today follow this teaching or not that is subjective.
I took a random survey among the working Muslim brothers to find out what they think about working for their fellow Muslims and those working for them, their experiences.
“I wouldn’t like to work for my fellow Muslim because they don’t treat us well. When one complains may be due to poor conditions of employment, they will tell you not to be like those non Muslims. You are my brother in faith and yet they will make you work more hours than your fellow workers who are not Muslims.” Said one brother who preferred anonymity for fear of being victimized.
While another brother commented: “that is why most Muslim professionals prefer not to work for their fellow Muslims because the employers tend not to recognize them as professionals especially if they are of different race or tribe.” This reminded me when I traveled to South Africa and got a job from one of our Muslim brothers there.
The experience I had really made me think the same way like my brothers. What really surprises me is that our prophet (SAW) advised his followers who owned servants to treat them fairly, give them the same food that those masters ate and yet here we are treating our fellow brothers like second class citizens. In recent times, we have seen in the media how the women from Indonesia who go to Saudi Arabia to work as maids are treated. It is indeed inhuman to treat others the way those individuals treated those women.
What we do not realize is the message such treatments to our fellow human beings send to the world and how such messages tarnish the image of Islam. The way we treat other people also says a lot about our faith. Islam is a way of life. But imagine how others will look at that “way of life”. If we Muslims lived according to the teachings of Islam, we could become good models to humanity and this in turn has a potential of acting as a public relations for our religion Islam.
Have we forgotten that day when our prophet (saw) went out of the town and met this lady who told him that she was leaving the town because she didn’t want to meet Prophet Muhammad who was a bad person. But when he disclosed to her that he was actually prophet Muhammad, the woman embraced Islam because what she saw was different from what she heard. I believe this is how we should live. We are the followers of the living Qur’an (Muhammad-SAW)
this is what makes us shame. because when you are working for a muslim brother you expose yourself as a muslim but later you are frustrated when the muslim brother you are working for behaves un human the other workers criticises him through you and also islam is offended because of this type of people
It is now our responsibilities to take action when these things happen to us.
Its a pity that it is happening like that but i think this problem is not linked with religion but there are certain people who are naturaly cruel they have no hearts,surprising you find that such kind of people are dedicated moslems and they pray alot,they love their worth so much and they have no regards to the poor. How shall Allah have mercy on them when they failed to love their fellow muslims. Such people will be punished on the day of judgement.the prophet muhamad peace be upon him urged the masters to pay their wokers well and in good time before thier sweat came out.This means that those Brothers and sisters who illtreat fellow muslims working for them will be punished accordingly by Allah on the day of judgement.
Further Comments
my advise to the moslem employees,please do not take advantage over the moslem employers, the fact that they are moslems does not mean that they will give free money,accept to be paid according on merit basis there are certain moslems who contribute very less and expect to get sympathy just because the boss is a moslem such people are thieves, sometime the problems comes with the employees themselves,my fellow employees please aim to get paid according to how much work you are doing and how much value you give to the company,lets refrain from getting free money, lets all work and earn what we are worth and that is hallal money.
much as I agree with those that are saying we should be paid based on performance, I have another…
Please conclude bro.