JEDDAH, 2 December 2007 — Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh has urged Saudis to treat their servants kindly and compassionately and not to delay their salaries.
In comments published in the Arabic media, the mufti called on Saudi employers not to force their house servants to do something beyond their capacity. “Mercy is one of the attributes of God that covers everything and we Muslims have to show mercy toward our fellow beings,” the grand mufti said.
“Our workers and servants, who are under our responsibility and care, deserve this kindness more than anybody else,” said Sheikh Abdul Aziz.
“We have to tolerate their mistakes, encourage them to do goodness, and we have to tell them these are the Islamic teachings and this may even open their minds to Islam,” he explained.
The mufti’s statement is significant in that it comes at a time when many Saudi individuals and companies are accused of delaying payment of salaries and other dues.
There are also reports of Saudi employers abusing and torturing their workers, especially maidservants.
The mufti urged Saudis to show kindness toward Muslims as well as non-Muslims. “It is the duty of Muslims to treat non-Muslims decently and kindly in accordance with the teachings of Islam,” he said, while emphasizing the importance of providing advice and guidance to workers who commit mistakes and wrongdoings.
“If we advise such people kindly and sympathetically it will encourage them to seek pardon from God and change their ways. This way we can lead them to the right path,” the mufti told Al-Madinah newspaper.
Dr. Muhammad Badahdah, assistant secretary-general of the World Assembly of Muslim Youth, supported the mufti’s statement and called on Saudis to live according to the teachings of Islam.
“Our Prophet (peace be upon him) has urged Muslim employers 1,400 years ago to pay their workers before their sweat dries up,” Badahdah said.
“The Prophet had also said that servants are your helpers and don’t ask them to do anything beyond their capacity and if you ask them to do it you have to help them,” the WAMY official said.
He said Muslim employers must be nice to all workers, irrespective of their positions and religions.
