The Quran-Based Human Resource Management

The Holy Quran guides us in all spheres of life. It also guides us in human resource management activities. Managers could find another effective way of managing people through Quran-based human resource practices. Muslim human resource managers need to understand about the Islamic approach in managing human resources and its distinctiveness from the Western human resource management practices.

Recruitment and Selection

The Holy Qur’an states, (28:26) “Said one of the (damsels): “O my (dear) father! Engage him on wages: truly the best of men for thee to employ is the (man) who is strong and trust worthy.” (The Qur’anic standard of eligibility for a job is the required merit and competence for it.)

In Islam, employee selection is abided by certain principles.

• ·         Justice: Ibn Abi Talib wrote; “Do not nominate them (officers) on account of favouritism or egoism. These two attributes reflect injustice and treachery.”
• ·         Competency: The individual is not to be appointed based on kinship or blood relationship, friendship, wealth, age, race, and political power or alike.
• ·         Honesty: Both the applicant and recruiter have to be honest.
• ·         Work beyond capacity: Islam forbids assignment of work that will exceed the individual’s capacity because the individual may not be able to do the work due to his or her inadequacies. For example, the Qur’an states, (2:233): “No soul shall have a burden laid on it greater than it can bear.” 

Performance appraisal

Al- Qur’an states (18:87-88): “Whoever doth wrong, him shall we punish; then shall be sent back to his Lord, and He will punish him with a punishment unheard of (before). But whoever believes, and work righteousness, he shall have a goodly reward, and easy will be his task as we order it by our command.”

the Holy Qur’an states (4:58), “God doth command you to render back your trust to those to whom they are due; and when ye judge between man and man, that ye judge with justice; verily how excellent is the teaching is the teaching which He giveth you! For God is He who heareth and seeth all things.”

Training - knowledge & Job Mastery

God Almighty said (58:11); “Are those who know equal to those who know not?” But only they who are endowed with understanding keep this in mind.” 

God Almighty said, (2:30-33): “When the Angels questioned Adam’s suitability for representation, God cited Adam’s knowledge to convince them.”

Islam gives the concept of knowledge continuity. Muslims are urged to seek knowledge from the cradle to grave.

God calls for job mastery. Shaddid b. Aus said: “Two are the things which I remember Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) having said: Verily God has enjoined goodness to everything; so when you kill, kill in a good way and when you slaughter, slaughter in a good way. So every one of you should sharpen his knife, and let the slaughtered animal die comfortably” (Sahih Muslim: Chapter 11, 21:4810). 

Compensation

The compensation was based on the following five foundations in the early years of Muslim State:

• ·         First, employment is a contract. The Qur’an instructs believers to meet conditions, and to avoid any attempt to go around the contract (7:85), “Nor withhold from the people the things that are their due.” The Qur’an instructs that wages must be determined with mutual consultation and consent (Qur’an 28:26-28). 
• ·         Second, workers should be given adequate and reasonable wages for their work.  Wages for all workers cannot be equal in all cases. The Qur’an states, (46:19) “And to all are ranked according to their deeds.” While deciding wages, it’s worthwhile to keep in view:

o   the quality and quantity of work;

o   their needs and requirement;

o   and the overall economic condition of the society.

• ·         Third, wages and compensations are based on prior agreement. Once the work is completed, wage has to be given immediately. Prophet (p.b.u.h) said; “Whoever believes in God and the Day of Judgment, should not employ a worker, until he or she knows what he or she is going to receives”.
• ·         Fourth, compensation can either be monetary or non-monetary.
• ·         Fifth, wages and compensations should be increased according to circumstances. In addition, wages and compensation should be sufficient to provide a decent living.

Forced labor and slavery 

Islam gives proper recognition to the dignity of work and employment. As narrated by Al-Miqdam, the Prophet (p.b.u.h) has said, “Nobody has ever eaten a better meal than that which one has earned by working with one’s own hands” (Sahih Bukhari, Volume 3:34:286).

Islam denounces slavery; Coercion and forced labour is strictly prohibited in Islam. As narrated by Abu Huraira, the Prophet (peace be upon him) has said; “God says that I will act as a plaintiff, on the Day of Judgment against the person who engages some worker on work and takes full work from him but does not give him (full) wages” (Sahih Bukhari, Volume 3:34:430).

It would be meaningful to explore the effects of Quran-based HRM practices on other work outcomes, such as, job stress and ethical behaviors.