The Payment of Dues and the Recognition of Rights

Maulana Wahiduddin Khan

According to al-Bukhari, God said: "I will become a claimant against three persons, one of these being a person who engaged a laborer, made him labor fully, but did not pay the wages" (Mishkat al-Masabih, 2/899).

Ibn Majah has narrated from Abdullah ibn Umar that the Prophet of Islam observed: "Pay the laborer his wages before his sweat dries up (that is, do not delay payment) (Mishkhat Al-Masabih, 2/900).

In this world, it repeatedly happens that one person employs another. In all such matters Islam enjoins the full payment of wages without any delay. After getting the work done, asking the laborer to come the next day for payment is extremely inconsiderate, and as such Islam forbids it.

Just as an employer needs the services of an employee, so also does the employee need compensation for his labor. This is a two-sided demand. When the worker has finished his work, it becomes incumbent on the employer to refrain from placing any obstacle in the way of payment of the sum he has promised.

In cases where wages or compensation have not been fixed in advance, Islam demands that for all services rendered, requital should be made in one form or another. If this cannot be done, for any reason, in material terms, the services should be fully acknowledged and publicly commended, and prayers said to God for the performer of the services.Paying immediate recompense on completion of a task increases mutual trust in society. Any practice contrary to this will cause society as a whole to fall prey to misgivings about a lack of trustworthiness in their fellow men.