Issue No: 231
8th May 2015
19th Rajab 1436 A.H.
Salamun alaykum,
Day for the workers:
At the commencement of this week we took a break to enjoy the bank holiday on Monday. This holiday is in celebration of the International Workers' Day or Labour Day, observed on 1st May or the first Monday of May throughout most of the countries of the world. In Bermuda, Canada and the United States, Labour day is celebrated on the first Monday of September.
This day is to commemorate the victory of the struggle by workers to safeguard their rights including fight for the eight hours working day.
Celebration of work in Islam:
The noble Qur’an outlines the purpose of our creation is to perform ibadah- service to Allah:
“And I have not created the Jinn and Men except that they should serve (ibadah) Me” Sura Adh Dhaariyat 51:56.
Is ibadah only the traditional rites of devotion?
In addition to fulfilling the various devotional deeds such as salat, sawm, haj, khums, zakat and other deeds which we commonly understand as ibadah, the effort of working in order to earn a living is also a deed of ibadah. When one strives to earn a lawful livelihood to meet ones needs and of the family, this is celebrated as ibadah; being in service to Allah SWT. Here too one is considered to be in state of ibadah: worship and duly rewarded.
Work that earns Divine honour:
In performing any act of ibadah there are several pre-requisites or conditions necessary to be fulfilled when performing a deed. For the case of Salat some of the conditions include Qibla direction, Taharat, Niyyat and other requisites. It is essential that these are fulfilled for the validity and acceptance of this service to Allah SWT.
Likewise when undertaking the ibadah of work there are some conditions to pay attention towards attaining its acceptance as an ibadah for the effort expended in seeking livelihood.
Hand: the tool for work:
When undertaking any work or occupation an aspect to which one needs to pay attention is the right of the body. The hand is an important organ of the body which a worker utilizes to perform work:-ibadah.
In stating the right of the hand in the famous epistle called Risalatul Huquq –the Charter of Rights- our fourth Imam Ali bin Husayn Zaynul ‘Aabidin a.s states:“….it is the right of your hand that you should not extend it to what is forbidden to you, otherwise you will earn punishment from Allah…..and you should enhance the honour of your hand by withholding it from unlawful things…..”
Whilst being in work or having a profession is an honour, it is more honourable to honour the right of the hand by undertaking the work that earns Divine pleasure and refrain from that which Divine wrath is poured.
The success of achieving Divine pleasure is in undertaking the types of work /occupations that is lawful /permissible in Islam.
What is the reward of work?
Our eighth Imam Ali bin Musa Ar Ridha a.s. states that work is considered to be superior than the Jihad in the path of Allah.
This is an indication of the reward being greater than the reward for a mujahid- one who performs Jihad.
As you recover from enjoying the bank holiday weekend for Labour Day /May Day and resume your ibadah of work are you grateful to Allah SWT for blessing you with the tawfiq to continue striving in undertaking work?
Is your occupation one that is worthy of Divine honour and being duly rewarded for being ibadah?
Wa ma tawfiqi illa billah
Fazle Abbas Datoo
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Resident Alim
Wessex Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat