The Islamic approach of obligations in mutual relations between employee and employer
International Journal of Ethics and Systems
ISSN: 2514-9369
Article publication date: 3 August 2018
Issue publication date: 17 August 2018
Abstract
Purpose
The exchange approach in management has viewed employee and employer relationship as a mutual relation, and this notion offers a causal explanation for the exchanges that occur between employee and employer. The purpose of the paper is to use the notion of “mutual relations” in the employment context to reflect on similar conceptions from the Islamic perspective and to throw light on Muslim obligations in employee–employer mutual relations seeking for benefits and preventing harm.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper draws on observations of other scholars in exchange theories based on reciprocity norm, well-being (maslaha), Islamic spiritual bases (taqwa, seeking for halal), work ethics in Islam and other Islamic teachings play toward understanding the nature of employee–employer mutual relationship from Islamic perspective. Two main social exchange theories (SET) are discussed to give a comprehensive view to the paper’s issue along with the literature reviewed from early Muslim scholars’ works, sayings of Prophet Muhammad PBUM and Holy Qur’an.
Findings
The literature indicates that it is possible to identify common ethical and contractual obligations in the employer’s and employee’s mutual relations from Islamic ideology. Given the paucity of research on employment relations in Islam, the paper offers an original perspective on this topic.
Originality/value
The paper concludes that a Muslim work obligation has to be based on the understanding of the scope and nature of the contract between employee and employer. Allah (The All-Knowing) knows that even if all obligations in employee and employer mutual relations are clear, human error might occur.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the Research and Development Division at Academy of Islamic Studies for the financial assistance to prepare this article. They would also like to thank the University of Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) for their approval and permission to conduct this study. The grant provided to the authors under research project RP028B-16HNE is highly appreciated.
Citation
Ahmed Haj Ali, A.R., Bin Noordin, K. and Achour, M. (2018), "The Islamic approach of obligations in mutual relations between employee and employer", International Journal of Ethics and Systems, Vol. 34 No. 3, pp. 338-351. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOES-12-2017-0227
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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