Islamic Ethics: Rights, Responsibilities and Professional Conduct
Islamic Ethics: Rights, Responsibilities and Professional Conduct
The danger of cheating, withholding people’s rights and losing barakah
Allah Almighty says in Surah al-Mutaffifin:
وَيْلٌ لِّلْمُطَفِّفِينَ الَّذِينَ إِذَا اكْتَالُوا عَلَى النَّاسِ يَسْتَوْفُونَ وَإِذَا كَالُوهُمْ أَو وَّزَنُوهُمْ يُخْسِرُونَ أَلَا يَظُنُّ أُولَٰئِكَ أَنَّهُم مَّبْعُوثُونَ لِيَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ النَّاسُ لِرَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
“Woe to those who give less than due! Those who, when they take a measure from people, take in full. But when they give by measure or weight to others, they give less than due. Do they not think that they will be resurrected for a tremendous Day—the Day when mankind will stand before the Lord of the worlds?” (Surah al-Mutaffifin 83:1–6)
Allah Almighty tells us in this beautiful surah about the mutaffifin — the cheaters, the defrauders, those who give less than what they are supposed to give. When they receive something from others, they demand their rights in full. However, when they are required to give something to others, they give less than what is due. Allah asks them: Do they not think that they will be resurrected on a tremendous Day, when they will stand before the Lord of the worlds?
We are familiar with this surah. We recite it, memorise it and teach it to our children. We frequently discuss the meaning of mutaffifin. However, it is not just about measuring things or weighing things. This is the immediate context, but the concept is much wider. It is a mentality, an attitude and a way of behaving. When this mentality spreads through any society, it destroys that society. This is why Allah Almighty repeatedly mentions the importance of justice and fairness in the Quran.
Maintaining the balance in everything
For example, in Surah ar-Rahman, Allah says:
وَالسَّمَاءَ رَفَعَهَا وَوَضَعَ الْمِيزَانَ أَلَّا تَطْغَوْا فِي الْمِيزَانِ وَأَقِيمُوا الْوَزْنَ بِالْقِسْطِ وَلَا تُخْسِرُوا الْمِيزَانَ
“And the heaven He raised and established the balance, so that you do not transgress within the balance. And establish weight in justice and do not make deficient the balance.” (Surah ar-Rahman 55:7–9)
Allah is telling us to maintain the balance, to measure things correctly and not to cheat. We also see this in the story of Prophet Shu’ayb (peace be upon him) and his people, the people of Madyan. One of their major problems was that they were cheating people in their commercial dealings. Shu’ayb warned them against consuming people’s rights and giving them less than they deserved. Allah says:
وَيَا قَوْمِ أَوْفُوا الْمِكْيَالَ وَالْمِيزَانَ بِالْقِسْطِ وَلَا تَبْخَسُوا النَّاسَ أَشْيَاءَهُمْ وَلَا تَعْثَوْا فِي الْأَرْضِ مُفْسِدِينَ
“And O my people, give full measure and weight in justice, and do not deprive people of their due, and do not spread corruption throughout the land.” (Surah Hud 11:85)
The problem was not simply that they were dishonest in the marketplace, but that dishonesty had become part of their mentality and their way of life. The Prophet ﷺ also warned us against cheating. He said:
مَنْ غَشَّ فَلَيْسَ مِنِّي
“Whoever cheats is not of me.” (Sahih Muslim)
This is a severe warning from the Prophet ﷺ. Cheating is not a minor matter but a violation of the rights of others, and its consequences extend far beyond the marketplace.
The different rights we must fulfil
When someone is demanding their rights, they want everything to be correct. They want the rules to be followed, the agreement to be honoured and everything they are entitled to delivered in full. However, when it is their turn to fulfil the rights of others, they may look for ways to avoid their obligations. This is not acceptable. It is haram.
The scholars have discussed different categories of rights, and we must be conscious of all of them. These include the rights of Allah, the rights of other people, the rights of workers and employers, the rights of colleagues and customers, and the rights of the wider community. All these rights are interconnected, and our responsibility as Muslims is to fulfil them with honesty, fairness and ihsan.
1. The rights of Allah: taqwa and ihsan
The highest right is the right of Allah Almighty. Allah says:
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ
“And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” (Surah adh-Dhariyat 51:56)
The rights of Allah include faith, sincerity, worship, obedience, taqwa and being conscious that Allah is watching us at all times. When we deal with people, we must remember the rights of Allah first. Even when nobody is watching you, when there is no CCTV, no supervisor and nobody checking your work, you must know that Allah is watching you. This awareness should influence everything we do, whether in our worship, our relationships or our professional responsibilities.
In the famous Hadith of Jibril (peace be upon him), Jibril asked the Prophet ﷺ, “O Muhammad, tell me about ihsan.” The Prophet ﷺ replied:
أَنْ تَعْبُدَ اللَّهَ كَأَنَّكَ تَرَاهُ، فَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ تَرَاهُ فَإِنَّهُ يَرَاكَ
“To worship Allah as though you see Him, for although you do not see Him, He sees you.” (Sahih Muslim)
This is ihsan. Nobody may notice if you cheat in a transaction, send defective materials, falsify information or neglect your responsibilities, but Allah knows. Taqwa and ihsan are what protect us from dishonesty, even when nobody is holding us accountable.
2. The rights of people: honesty, trust and fairness
The second category is the rights of people. Those who are on the receiving end of our dealings deserve fairness, honesty, respect and good treatment. Whether you are an employer, employee, customer, supplier, colleague or family member, you have obligations towards others. The same standards of fairness that you expect from others must also govern your own behaviour.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
الْمُسْلِمُ مَنْ سَلِمَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ مِنْ لِسَانِهِ وَيَدِهِ
“A Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hand other Muslims are safe.” (Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)
Our dealings must be based on honesty, trustworthiness, compassion, humility, forgiveness and respect for the dignity of others. We must avoid harming people, whether through our words, our actions or our financial dealings. Fulfilling people’s rights is the foundation of good character and a healthy society.
3. The rights of workers: fair wages and dignity
If you are an employer, your employees have rights over you. They must receive their agreed wages in full and on time. They must be treated fairly and respectfully and should not be exploited or burdened beyond their capacity. Their working conditions should be safe, and their dignity must be respected.
The Prophet ﷺ gave a severe warning concerning those who take the work of others without paying them. He mentioned among the three people against whom Allah will be an adversary on the Day of Resurrection:
وَرَجُلٌ اسْتَأْجَرَ أَجِيرًا فَاسْتَوْفَى مِنْهُ وَلَمْ يُعْطِهِ أَجْرَهُ
“And a man who employs a labourer, takes the full work from him, but does not pay him his wages.” (Sahih Bukhari)
Think about the seriousness of this warning. You demand full work from your employees, yet you withhold their wages or deprive them of what they are entitled to. You expect them to fulfil their duties, but you do not fulfil yours. This is also a form of tatfif — giving people less than their due. The employer has a responsibility before Allah to ensure that employees are treated justly and receive their rights.
4. The rights of employers: honesty and fulfilling responsibilities
At the same time, employers also have rights. If you are an employee, you must fulfil your contractual duties, respect working hours, complete your responsibilities and safeguard the property and confidential information entrusted to you. Allah Almighty says:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَوْفُوا بِالْعُقُودِ
“O you who believe, fulfil your contracts.” (Surah al-Ma’idah 5:1)
When you agree to work for someone, you are entering into a contract. You are being paid for your time, your skills and your responsibilities. Therefore, you cannot waste working hours on activities unrelated to your work. For example, if you spend your working time browsing social media, exploring new applications or doing personal things that are not part of your duties, you are using time for which somebody else is paying you, unless your employer has permitted it. This is also a form of tatfif.
Just as an employer must not cheat an employee, an employee must not cheat an employer. Both have rights and responsibilities, and both are accountable before Allah.
5. The rights of work: excellence and professional conduct
Work itself has rights. We must perform our duties with competence, diligence, quality and excellence. The Prophet ﷺ said:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَتَبَ الْإِحْسَانَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ
“Indeed, Allah has prescribed excellence in everything.” (Sahih Muslim)
Ihsan is not limited to salah and worship. It applies to everything we do, including our professional responsibilities. If you are producing something, it should be produced properly. If you are providing a service, you should provide it competently. If you are entrusted with a task, you should complete it properly. We must take responsibility for the quality of our work and avoid negligence or deliberately wasting time.
Do not neglect your responsibilities, conceal mistakes or knowingly deliver poor-quality work. You may think you are clever because nobody noticed, but you are only deceiving yourself. Money acquired through deliberate dishonesty and cheating is haram. Haram is not limited to what we eat and drink; it also includes wealth acquired through fraud, exploitation and taking what belongs to others without right. We must be as careful about how we earn our money as we are about what we eat.
6. The rights of colleagues: cooperation and respect
Our colleagues also have rights over us. We must treat them with respect, cooperate with them, support one another and avoid backbiting, envy, unfairness and favouritism. Allah says:
وَتَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوَىٰ وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ
“And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression.” (Surah al-Ma’idah 5:2)
A healthy working environment requires mutual trust and fairness. We should not take credit for somebody else’s work, undermine colleagues or deliberately create difficulties for them. Instead, we should support one another in fulfilling our responsibilities and achieving what is beneficial. Our treatment of colleagues is another area in which our sincerity and integrity are tested.
7. The rights of customers: honesty and transparency
Customers and clients have rights. They deserve honesty, transparency, fairness and the fulfilment of promises. If you sell a product, you should describe it accurately. If there is a defect, you should not deliberately conceal it. If you agree to provide a certain quantity or quality, you must honour that agreement. The same principle applies to every service or transaction in which another person is relying on your honesty.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
مَنْ غَشَّ فَلَيْسَ مِنِّي
“Whoever cheats is not of me.” (Sahih Muslim)
It is not permissible to deceive customers in order to increase your profits. You might gain financially in the short term, but what have you gained if you have lost the barakah in your wealth? A successful transaction is not simply one in which you make money. It is one in which you fulfil your obligations honestly and earn in a way that is pleasing to Allah.
8. The rights of society and public property
Our responsibilities are not limited to the workplace. Society also has rights over us. We must respect public property, protect the environment, avoid causing harm and contribute to the common good. We must consider how our actions affect other people and the spaces and resources we share.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
وَتُمِيطُ الْأَذَى عَنِ الطَّرِيقِ صَدَقَةٌ
“And removing something harmful from the road is charity.” (Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)
Even removing an obstacle from the road is considered an act of charity. This teaches us that Islam encourages us to be beneficial to others and to prevent harm wherever possible. Looking after shared facilities and public spaces is part of fulfilling the rights of others and contributing positively to society.
9. The rights of leadership: justice and equal opportunities
Those who hold positions of authority have additional responsibilities. Managers and leaders must act justly, give people their rights and make decisions fairly. Allah says:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالْإِحْسَانِ
“Indeed, Allah commands justice and excellence.” (Surah an-Nahl 16:90)
Justice means that we do not discriminate unfairly, exploit our authority or deprive people of opportunities because of personal preferences. Appointments and promotions should be based on merit, competence, qualifications and ability, rather than favouritism or nepotism. Opportunities should not depend on whether someone is your relative, friend or favourite. Authority is an amanah — a trust from Allah — and those responsible for making decisions must remember that they will be accountable for how they use it.
10. The rights of society to beneficial work and productivity
Work is not merely a way of earning money. It is also a means of contributing to society, producing something beneficial and developing the world around us. Allah says:
هُوَ أَنشَأَكُم مِّنَ الْأَرْضِ وَاسْتَعْمَرَكُمْ فِيهَا
“He produced you from the earth and settled you in it.” (Surah Hud 11:61)
Our responsibility includes earning lawfully, working productively, developing our skills and contributing positively to society. We should strive to improve our businesses, industries, knowledge and services, but without compromising our principles. Islam encourages beneficial work and responsible use of the resources Allah has given us. However, progress and prosperity should never come at the expense of justice, honesty or the rights of others.
Time is an amanah
When we talk about rights, we must also talk about time. Time is an amanah — a trust from Allah. Our lives are an amanah. It is not only our work that is an amanah. The time Allah has given us must be used beneficially, and we should be conscious of how we spend it. We have responsibilities towards Allah, our families, our children, our work and our communities. Each has rights over us, and we should not waste our lives or neglect the responsibilities entrusted to us.
We should not think that cheating only happens in commercial transactions. A person may practise tatfif in their work, in their marriage, in their family life, in the mosque, in their relationships and even in matters of knowledge. For example, you may demand that your spouse respects you and fulfils your rights, while you neglect their rights. You may expect your children to be respectful and obedient, while you do not fulfil your own responsibilities towards them. This is the same mentality: you want your rights in full, but you are not prepared to give others their rights in full.
Cheating is a disease of the heart
Allah warns us against this mentality because it is a dangerous disease of the heart. There is no medicine we can take to cure it; its cure is taqwa and ihsan. When these qualities are absent, dishonesty spreads, people begin to justify cheating, and gradually it becomes normal. The moral restraint that should prevent people from exploiting one another disappears.
This is particularly relevant when we consider the financial pressures many people face today. When money becomes tight, Shaytan tempts us to find new ways of earning through haram. He whispers that nobody will notice if we cheat a little, conceal something or take a shortcut to increase our profits. We may see the financial gain on paper, but Allah can remove the barakah from that wealth.
How cheating removes barakah
If you want to remove barakah from your wealth, cheat people. If you want to remove barakah from your business, cheat people. You may see your income increasing, but the blessing will disappear. The Prophet ﷺ explained this principle in a hadith concerning buying and selling:
الْبَيِّعَانِ بِالْخِيَارِ مَا لَمْ يَتَفَرَّقَا، فَإِنْ صَدَقَا وَبَيَّنَا بُورِكَ لَهُمَا فِي بَيْعِهِمَا، وَإِنْ كَذَبَا وَكَتَمَا مُحِقَتْ بَرَكَةُ بَيْعِهِمَا
“The buyer and seller have the option as long as they have not separated. If they are truthful and make everything clear, they will be blessed in their transaction. But if they lie and conceal things, the blessing of their transaction will be erased.” (Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)
You may have a great deal of money but little barakah in it, while Allah can make a small amount sufficient for someone else. Therefore, be content with what Allah has given you while continuing to improve your work, skills, business and performance. There is nothing wrong with striving for greater success, provided you do so through honest and lawful means.
Be careful not to fall into Shaytan’s trap by taking the rights of others. You dislike it when somebody cheats you, so why should you think it is acceptable to cheat somebody else? Put yourself in their position. Whatever you dislike for yourself, you should not impose upon others. The Prophet ﷺ said:
لَا يُؤْمِنُ أَحَدُكُمْ حَتَّى يُحِبَّ لِأَخِيهِ مَا يُحِبُّ لِنَفْسِهِ
“None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.” (Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)
This is the foundation of fairness. We cannot expect honesty from others while excusing dishonesty in ourselves. We cannot demand respect while being disrespectful, or insist that others fulfil their commitments while neglecting our own. The standard we apply to ourselves should be the same standard we expect from others.
The Prophet ﷺ: As-Sadiq al-Amin
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was known for his truthfulness and trustworthiness even before he received revelation. He was known as as-Sadiq al-Amin — the truthful and the trustworthy. These qualities were part of his character before prophethood, and they are among the qualities we should strive to develop. Allah has commanded us to follow his example. He says:
لَّقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِّمَن كَانَ يَرْجُو اللَّهَ وَالْيَوْمَ الْآخِرَ وَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا
“Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah you have an excellent example for whoever has hope in Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah often.” (Surah al-Ahzab 33:21)
If we truly want to follow the Prophet ﷺ, then truthfulness and trustworthiness must become part of our character. We must fulfil the rights of Allah, the rights of people and the rights of our families. We must be honest and trustworthy in our work and in our dealings. By doing so, we hope to be among the siddiqin, the truthful ones, and to receive the barakah that Allah places in our lives and wealth.
The secret of barakah
When we fulfil the rights of Allah and the rights of people, Allah places barakah in what we have. Even if we have very little, Allah can make it sufficient. You can ask your parents or grandparents about this. Many of them lived with very little money, yet somehow they managed to support their families and provide for their children. You might ask them how they managed with so little, and they may tell you that Allah placed barakah in what they had.
This is the secret of barakah. It is not simply about how much money you earn, but whether Allah has placed blessing in that money. Truthfulness, honesty and fulfilling people’s rights are among the means of receiving that blessing. A smaller amount of halal earnings with barakah can bring greater benefit than wealth acquired through dishonesty.
Financial challenges are a test of our integrity
We must remain honest even when circumstances are difficult. Financial challenges are a test, pressure at work is a test, and difficulties in business and industry are a test. When you face these difficulties, how will you respond? Will you take shortcuts and cheat because you are under pressure? Will you compromise your principles because you want to make more money? Or will you remain truthful, ask Allah for His help and continue striving to do your best?
This is a great test from Allah Almighty. It is easy to be honest when everything is going well, but the real test comes when honesty appears to cost us something. We must remain steadfast even when circumstances encourage us to take shortcuts. Being honest may sometimes seem difficult, but it is part of our responsibility before Allah and part of our journey towards Jannah.
Do not think that Jannah is impossible to attain. We are prepared to go through different stages of training and pass different tests to obtain a driving licence. We study, practise and sit examinations just to be allowed to drive a car, even though we can live without a car. But what about Jannah? To reach Jannah, we also have tests to pass, and this is one of them. Honesty, trustworthiness and fulfilling people’s rights are part of our journey towards Jannah.
Do not forget this. Shaytan, on the other hand, wants us to fail these tests. He wants us to cheat, take shortcuts and compromise our integrity. He wants us to think that a small act of dishonesty does not matter or that nobody will notice. We must be alert to his whispers and remember that Allah sees everything we do.
Conclusion: Give others their rights in full
The message of Surah al-Mutaffifin is not simply about merchants who give short measure. It is about a mentality that can affect every aspect of our lives. We must not demand our rights in full while withholding the rights of others. We must fulfil the rights of Allah through faith, sincerity, worship and taqwa, and the rights of people through honesty, compassion, fairness and respect. We must fulfil the rights of workers and employers, colleagues and customers, families and communities.
We must be just in our leadership, excellent in our work and responsible with our time. We must strive to earn and contribute lawfully, without cheating or exploiting others. Allah Almighty says:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالْإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَيَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ
“Indeed, Allah commands justice, excellence and generosity to relatives, and forbids immorality, wrongdoing and oppression. He instructs you so that you may be reminded.” (Surah an-Nahl 16:90)
Ultimately, our character is tested by how we behave when nobody is watching, when we are under financial pressure, and when we have the opportunity to benefit ourselves at somebody else’s expense. If we are conscious that Allah sees us, we will be more careful to fulfil every trust placed upon us.
We ask Allah Almighty to make us among the people of ihsan, sincerity, truthfulness and trustworthiness.
اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْنَا مِنْ أَهْلِ الْإِحْسَانِ، وَمِنْ أَهْلِ الْإِخْلَاصِ، وَمِنْ أَهْلِ الصِّدْقِ وَالْأَمَانَةِ.
“O Allah, make us among the people of excellence, sincerity, truthfulness and trustworthiness.”
May Allah protect us from cheating, dishonesty and taking the rights of others. May He grant us halal provision, place barakah in our earnings, and enable us to fulfil our responsibilities towards Him and towards His creation. Ameen.
Based on the khutbah of Shaykh Haytham Tamim on 23rd October 2026.