Clarification of Wages When Hiring a Laborer: A Legal and Ethical Requirement
Written by: Imran Ayyub Lahori◈ Introduction: Importance of Stating Wages Clearly
Islamic teachings emphasize justice and clarity in all financial transactions, especially when it comes to hiring laborers. It is imperative that the wage of a laborer be clearly specified at the time of agreement, to prevent future disputes and to uphold fairness.
❖ Hadith Evidence Prohibiting Undefined Wages
➊ Narration of Abu Sa‘eed al-Khudri (رضي الله عنه):
❝نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ عَنْ اسْتِئْجَارِ الْأَجِيرِ حَتَّى يُبَيَّنَ لَهُ أَجْرُهُ❞
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ forbade hiring a laborer until his wage was made clear.”
[Musnad Aḥmad: 3/59 | Bayhaqī: 6/120 | ʿAbd al-Razzāq: 8/235 | Nasā’ī: 3857]
Note on Authenticity:This narration is weak due to a break (inqitāʿ) in its chain. Ibrāhīm ibn Yazīd al-Nakhaʿī did not directly hear from Abu Saʿīd al-Khudrī, which renders the sanad disconnected.
Hadith scholar Shaykh Shu‘ayb al-Arna'ūt also graded this narration as weak for the same reason.
[Musnad Aḥmad – Hadith no. 11565]❖ Authentic Hadith Supporting the Principle
➋ Distribution Agreement with the Jews of Khaybar:
The Prophet ﷺ gave the Jews the land of Khaybar to cultivate with their labor, with a clear agreement:
❝وَلَهُمْ شَطْرُ مَا يَخْرُجُ مِنْهَا❞
"And for them would be half of whatever the land produced."
[Bukhārī: 2285 | Muslim: 2896 | Tirmidhī: 1304 | Abū Dāwūd: 2959]
This authentic narration confirms that clearly defining compensation (in this case, half of the produce) is necessary when hiring or entering into a working contract.❖ Scholarly Endorsement
➌ Imām al-Shawkānī (رحمه الله)
[Nayl al-Awṭār: 3/684]❖ Scholarly Consensus (Ijmā‘)
➍ The scholars have agreed (ijmā‘) on this ruling:
It is impermissible to hire a laborer without stating the wage. Doing so opens the door to injustice, ambiguity, and disputes. [Al-Fiqh al-Islāmī wa Adillatuhu: 5/3822 | Al-Mughnī: 5/404 | Nayl al-Awṭār: 3/684] Conclusion:
✔ When hiring a laborer, wages must be clearly specified and mutually agreed upon.
✔ The practice of leaving compensation ambiguous is prohibited due to the potential harm and injustice it can cause.
✔ This ruling is supported by authentic Hadith, scholarly analysis, and consensus.
