The Honest Employee

The First Sermon Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, who rewards the good doers and does not waste the wages of workers. I testify that there is no god but Allah, the guardian of the pious, and that our master and prophet Muhammad is His servant and messenger, the seal of the prophets. May Allah's prayers and peace be upon him and his family and companions. But after: I advise you, servants of Allah, and myself to fear Allah. He said in His exalted words:  (يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَلْتَنْظُرْ نَفْسٌ مَا قَدَّمَتْ لِغَدٍ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ) (O you who believe, fear Allah and consider what you have prepared for tomorrow. And fear Allah, for Allah is All-Aware of what you do). O believers: While Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was walking in Medina, he saw a shepherd and asked, Can you sell us a sheep? Ibn 'Umar tested his honesty, saying, Tell the one who entrusted you with it, 'The wolf ate it.' The shepherd looked up and said, Where is Allah? Ibn 'Umar kept repeating, Where is Allah? This emphasizes that every employee should be mindful of Allah in their work. The Prophet said: «اعْبُدِ ‌اللَّهَ ‌كَأَنَّكَ ‌تَرَاهُ، فَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ تَرَاهُ؛ فَإِنَّهُ يَرَاكَ» (Worship Allah as if you see Him; if you cannot see Him, He sees you). This is the honest employee who appreciates Allah’s grace in their work, is grateful for it, and takes their responsibilities seriously. Guided by the words of the Prophet: «إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ ‌سَائِلٌ ‌كُلَّ ‌رَاعٍ عَمَّا اسْتَرْعَاهُ، أَحَفِظَ ذَلِكَ أَمْ ضَيَّعَ» Allah Almighty will ask every leader about what they were entrusted with, whether they preserved it or neglected it. They fulfill their duties with honesty and integrity, as stated: (فَلْيُؤَدِّ الَّذِي اؤْتُمِنَ أَمَانَتَهُ وَلْيَتَّقِ اللَّهَ رَبَّهُ) Let the one entrusted fulfill their trust, and let them fear Allah. An honest employee adheres to their work schedule, avoids laziness, and remembers: (أَلَمْ يَعْلَمْ بِأَنَّ اللَّهَ يَرَى)؟ (Did he not know that Allah sees)? They do not waste time in idle chatter or on their phone but approach their work with sincerity and dedication. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: «إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ إِذَا عَمَلَ ‌أَحَدُكُمْ ‌عَمَلًا ‌أَنْ ‌يُتْقِنَهُ» Indeed, Allah loves when one of you does a job to perfect it. Servants of Allah: The highest trait of an honest employee is: (عَلَى الْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوَى) Cooperating with colleagues in righteousness and piety, being united: «كَالْبُنْيَانِ يَشُدُّ بَعْضُهُ بَعْضًا» Like a structure that strengthens one another. They appreciate their colleagues’ efforts, strive for their success, and: «يُحِبُّ ‌لِأَخِيهِ ‌مَا ‌يُحِبُّ ‌لِنَفْسِهِ» Loves for his brother what he loves for himself. They do not harbor envy or grudges but support each other: «وَاللَّهُ ‌فِي ‌عَوْنِ ‌الْعَبْدِ مَا كَانَ الْعَبْدُ فِي عَوْنِ أَخِيهِ» Allah helps the servant as long as the servant helps their brother. An honest employee is persevering, continually improving their knowledge and skills, working according to: (وَقُلْ رَبِّ ‌زِدْنِي عِلْمًا) And say, 'My Lord, increase me in knowledge.' They serve as role models for trainees, sharing their knowledge freely. Congratulations to them, for: (إِنَّا لَا ‌نُضِيعُ ‌أَجْرَ مَنْ أَحْسَنَ عَمَلًا) We do not waste the reward of the best deeds. May Allah grant us success, sincerity, and dedication in our work. Allah says: “O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you.” (Surah An-Nisa: 59). I say this, and I seek Allah's forgiveness for myself and for you, so seek His forgiveness; He is the Most Forgiving, Most Merciful. The Second Sermon All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the final prophet, and upon his family and companions. To continue: O believers, the honest employee protects the national and public interest, prioritizing it over personal gain. They care for their institution as they would their home and property. Employees, safeguard your institutions' resources as you do your own. Do not betray trust or waste provisions, for: (إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ ‌الْخَائِنِينَ) Allah does not love traitors, and He: (‌لَا ‌يُحِبُّ ‌الْمُسْرِفِينَ) does not love wasteful. Avoid unlawful gifts; the Prophet said: «وَالَّذِي نَفْسُ مُحَمَّدٍ بِيَدِهِ لَا يَأْتِي أَحَدٌ مِنْكُمْ بِشَيْءٍ -أَيْ: مِمَّا أُهْدِيَ إِلَيْهِ بِسَبَبِ وَظِيفَتِهِ- إِلَّا طِيفَ بِهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ، يَحْمِلُهُ عَلَى عُنُقِهِ» By the One in whose hand is Muhammad's soul, no one among you brings anything given to him because of his position except that it will be a collar around his neck on the Day of Resurrection. If you are responsible for others, treat them kindly, for: «إِنَّ ‌الرِّفْقَ لَا يَكُونُ فِي شَيْءٍ ‌إِلَّا ‌زَانَهُ» Kindness enhances all things. Praise good work and be forgiving of mistakes. Remember your Lord's words: (فَبِمَا رَحْمَةٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ لِنْتَ لَهُمْ وَلَوْ كُنْتَ فَظًّا غَلِيظَ الْقَلْبِ لَانْفَضُّوا مِنْ حَوْلِكَ فَاعْفُ ‌عَنْهُمْ ‌وَاسْتَغْفِرْ ‌لَهُمْ) It was by the mercy of Allah that you were lenient with them. If you had been rude in speech and harsh in heart, they would have dispersed from around you. So pardon them and seek forgiveness for them. Let us remember that the UAE, under its wise leadership, has established laws to elevate professional ethics. Let’s adhere to them and invest in our institutions' excellence and our society's happiness. O Allah, bless and send peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and companions. Be pleased with Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali, and all honorable companions. O Allah, make us believers, devoted worshippers, and dutiful children to our parents. Grant us loyalty, gratitude, and sincerity to the UAE, faithful to its leaders. Protect our responsibilities and trusts. O Allah, bless our country with stability, health, and prosperity. Guide our leaders, including Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, and grant mercy to our founding leaders. O Allah, have mercy on Muslims, both men and women, living and deceased. O Allah, send us rain and relieve us. (Our Lord, grant us in this world what is good and in the Hereafter what is good, and save us from the punishment of the Fire.) (Surah Al-Baqarah: 201) Servants of Allah, remember Allah, and He will remember you. Be grateful to Him, and He will increase your blessings. Establish the prayer.