Labor Day And Respect For Workers As Well As Their Work

 Labor Day And Respect For Workers As Well As Their Work

M. Bakri Musa

September 7, 2025

The first Monday of September is an American holiday to honor workers. In his khutba on the Friday before Labor Day 2025, our Imam Ilyas reminded us of one of the central values of our faith, that is, respect for workers and appreciation for their work. He quoted the hadith of paying a worker “before the sweat on his brow dries up.”

            Imam Ilyas went further. If a worker were to do a hundred dollars’ worth of work, then pay him that much and not a penny less just because he is an illegal immigrant. Or in Malaysia, a Bangla worker or Indon maid.

            Labor Day notwithstanding, America’s public finance relies heavily on income tax, that is tax from labor, and is progressive. Islam’s zakat is on assets and with a flat rate of 2.5 percent. The burden is on asset owners (meaning, the rich), less on workers.

            This respect for workers and their work goes further. A story in the Sufi tradition has it that a famous ulama frequented his mosque in the wee hours of the morning to clean the washrooms. He purposely chose that time so as not to be seen by his congregants. Not that it would embarrass him, rather to spare his followers the shame. That story also reflects the nobility of labor such that even a famed scholar did not deem it beneath him to perform even the most menial task.

While respecting the essence, I have a different take on that legend. That is, the Imam had not found a way to remind his flock in the most benign, effective, and inoffensive manner to clean up after themselves! Observe the hordes performing tahajut prayers deep in the night. Few if any stay behind to clean up. Likewise, those doing fajar (dawn) prayers do not seize that opportunity to start their day early. Instead most return to sleep and squander the splendid opportunity or benefits of early rising.

An Imam here in America once reminded his students that in as much as he appreciated their presence and diligence, the people who pick up the street garbage in the early morning hours are doing more good to society, and thus serving God. That is putting things in their proper perspective. That also reflects the Imam’s humility in acknowledging the value of his contributions in the grand scheme of things! Our holy book, reemphasized by numerous hadith, asserts that the best amongst us are those who serve the community.

Contrast that to the certitude and arrogance of Malaysian Youtube ulama as they endlessly regurgitate the contents of their moldy texts, oblivious of the pressing issues plaguing their communities.

I once attended a picnic in a public park with Malaysian students here in America. Everyone picked up after themselves and deposited their garbage in the bins. Back home (meaning Malaysia) they would litter away with abandon.

            One astute student mentioned this to me. I asked him whether he had noticed anything unusual about the bins. They had been emptied earlier in the morning hours long before the picnic. Contrast that to Malaysian parks. Even on the rare occasions when those bins had been emptied, there would be residual rubbish strewn around. You might as well put up a sign, “Go ahead and litter here!”

            Malaysians have no respect for garbage collectors nor the crucial work they do. That is also reflected by their low pay.

            Social psychologists tell us of the critical role ambience has on behaviors. You would not dare enter the lobby of a five-star hotel barefooted in an apik-like sleeveless T-shirt even though there are no specific dress code signs. On his recent umrah, our Imam was horrified that the passengers, all from America, started to stand up and open the overhead bins as soon as the plane had landed despite the cabin crews’ repeated reminders to remain seated for their safety. Back stateside those passengers would have dutifully remained seated and belted until the plane had come to a complete stop and the seat belt sign turned off.

            Again relating to ambience, we should be aware of the “broken window” syndrome. When minor signs of decay, physical as with a broken window, or social, as with general littering, remain unaddressed, that would encourage more serious transgressions.

Back to paying a worker literally “before the sweat on his brow dries up,” obviously that would create monumental administrative costs and headaches. Hence biweekly or monthly paychecks. Nonetheless, the underlying principle remains:  respect workers and their work by compensating them fairly, union or no union. Alas, Labor Day notwithstanding, the American tax system does not reflect this. Earned income is treated far less favorably than passive ones as from investments and other capital gains.