The story of Shu'ayb (peace be upon him) and a discussion on honesty in measuring and weighing, and what falls under that regarding lawful and forbidden earnings.
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The Shaykh : Let us move on to the second topic, which is honesty in measuring and weighing. This is from the Messenger who was sent to a people among whom shortcoming in the measure and the scale had become apparent.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Shu'ayb. Yes, you did well. Shu'ayb was sent to a people who were polytheists, but the most prominent of their sins, other than shirk, was what? Shortchanging in the measure and the scale. Read: "And to Madyan [We sent] their brother Shu'ayb." Read: "Do not write; stand up, what do you remember? Who remembers? Yes, indeed. There is no power nor strength except with Allah. O Allah."
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Wrong.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Yes.[Hud 11:84] It contains "Give full measure." [Hud 11:84] Rest. And He said to them in another expression: [Al-A'raf 7:85] So here, a Messenger was sent to correct people regarding tawhid (the oneness of Allah) first, and regarding honesty with people in their rights second. For example, if a person buys a kilo of food from you and you shortchange him, you become similar to which people from those who came before? Which people? The people of Shu'ayb. Some people shortchange the measure when it is for others, but when it is for themselves, they take the full amount. Regarding these people, Allah the Exalted says: [Al-Mutaffifin 83:1-3] Whoever sells food by measure or weight knows this, and it corresponds to the practice of the people of Shu'ayb. But there is another type of shortchanging, which is what I would like to speak about: shortchanging in official government work. Shortchanging in official government work. Employees have a duration and a field. That is, jobs with us are of two types: jobs restricted by a time period.
And jobs restricted by a field of work.
Jobs restricted by a duration. From when to when? Who knows? Stand up.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : From seven-thirty to two-thirty. May Allah reward you. Did you not know, my brothers, that some employees come at nine o'clock and record that they arrived at seven-thirty? That is lying and betrayal, and consuming wealth unjustly. It is lying because he recorded that he came at seven-thirty. This is lying. We mentioned that he came at nine, and he recorded seven-thirty. This is lying, a betrayal of the state, and indeed of the Ummah, because the work of the state is work for the Ummah, not for it alone. You are now in your office, far from the rulers, working for the Ummah. For example, you betray it because you appear before it as if you are fulfilling your duty. When did you arrive?
The student: At nine.
The Shaykh : At nine, but the record?
The student: At seven.
The Shaykh : At seven-thirty. You betrayed it. This is betrayal, consuming wealth unjustly, because you will take the full salary even though you shortchanged, you shortchanged the required work. So whatever exceeds the amount of work you actually did is haram (forbidden) for you. It is haram. If we assume this man takes seventy riyals a day, and the work duration is what? We said from seven-thirty to two-thirty. How many hours? Seven hours. Okay, he takes seventy riyals a day, meaning his salary is seventy riyals every day. And he was late until nine o'clock. How much does he deserve from the seventy?
The student: Fifty.
The Shaykh : Fifty, or fifty-five. Now he wants to take seventy. The fifteen is haram (forbidden) for him; he consumed it unjustly. What made it permissible for him? If a riyal were deducted from his salary, the student, the one in charge of the box, why would it be deducted? Yet he is now shortchanging fifteen riyals in his work, and it is as if it is nothing. And this is what has befallen many people, that their supplications are not accepted, because consuming haram (forbidden) is a cause for the prevention of the acceptance of supplication. Listen, my brother, to the hadith. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih Muslim 1015 Then Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Mu'minun 23:51] And He the Exalted said: [Al-Baqarah 2:172] Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned a man. Listen to the descriptions: he lengthens his journey, his hair is disheveled, he is dusty, he stretches his hands to the sky, "O my Lord, O my Lord." How many descriptions?
The student: Four.
The Shaykh : How many descriptions?
The student: Four.
The Shaykh : He lengthens his journey.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Shu'ayb. Yes, you did well. Shu'ayb was sent to a people who were polytheists, but the most prominent of their sins, other than shirk, was what? Shortchanging in the measure and the scale. Read: "And to Madyan [We sent] their brother Shu'ayb." Read: "Do not write; stand up, what do you remember? Who remembers? Yes, indeed. There is no power nor strength except with Allah. O Allah."
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Wrong.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Yes.
And do not decrease from the measure
ولا تنقصوا المكيالAnd do not decrease from the measure and the scale. Indeed, I see you in prosperity, but indeed, I fear for you the punishment of an all-encompassing Day.
ولا تنقصوا المكيال والميزان إني أراكم بخير وإني أخاف عليكم عذاب يوم محيطdo not deprive people of their due
لا تبخسوا الناس أشياءهم(1) Woe to those who give less [than due], (2) Who, when they take a measure from people, take in full. (3) But if they give by measure or by weight to them, they cause loss.
ويل للمطففين الذين إذا اكتالوا على الناس يستوفون وإذا كالوهم أو وزنوهم يخسرونAnd jobs restricted by a field of work.
Jobs restricted by a duration. From when to when? Who knows? Stand up.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : From seven-thirty to two-thirty. May Allah reward you. Did you not know, my brothers, that some employees come at nine o'clock and record that they arrived at seven-thirty? That is lying and betrayal, and consuming wealth unjustly. It is lying because he recorded that he came at seven-thirty. This is lying. We mentioned that he came at nine, and he recorded seven-thirty. This is lying, a betrayal of the state, and indeed of the Ummah, because the work of the state is work for the Ummah, not for it alone. You are now in your office, far from the rulers, working for the Ummah. For example, you betray it because you appear before it as if you are fulfilling your duty. When did you arrive?
The student: At nine.
The Shaykh : At nine, but the record?
The student: At seven.
The Shaykh : At seven-thirty. You betrayed it. This is betrayal, consuming wealth unjustly, because you will take the full salary even though you shortchanged, you shortchanged the required work. So whatever exceeds the amount of work you actually did is haram (forbidden) for you. It is haram. If we assume this man takes seventy riyals a day, and the work duration is what? We said from seven-thirty to two-thirty. How many hours? Seven hours. Okay, he takes seventy riyals a day, meaning his salary is seventy riyals every day. And he was late until nine o'clock. How much does he deserve from the seventy?
The student: Fifty.
The Shaykh : Fifty, or fifty-five. Now he wants to take seventy. The fifteen is haram (forbidden) for him; he consumed it unjustly. What made it permissible for him? If a riyal were deducted from his salary, the student, the one in charge of the box, why would it be deducted? Yet he is now shortchanging fifteen riyals in his work, and it is as if it is nothing. And this is what has befallen many people, that their supplications are not accepted, because consuming haram (forbidden) is a cause for the prevention of the acceptance of supplication. Listen, my brother, to the hadith. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Allah is Good and He therefore, accepts only that which is good. And Allah commanded the believers as He commanded the Messengers
إن الله طيب لا يقبل إلا طيبا وإن الله أمر المؤمنين بما أمر به المرسلينO messengers, eat from the good foods and work righteousness
يا أيها الرسول كلوا من الطيبات واعملوا صالحاO you who have believed, eat from the good things which We have provided for you and be grateful to Allah
يا أيها الذين آمنوا كلوا من طيبات ما رزقناكم واشكروا للهThe student: Four.
The Shaykh : How many descriptions?
The student: Four.
The Shaykh : He lengthens his journey.