Islamic HRM is one of the most recent concepts in the field of management. Alhamdulillah, BiMS has introduced the principles of Islamic HRM for the first time in Bangladesh.
The value of the work and career is to utilize and enjoy the bounties of ALLAH for the benefit of oneself and the community. Therefore, work ethics in Islam are related to striving for perfection, seeking rewards in life and the after-life, and exerting effort without excess. Whatever task a Muslim performs should be carried out with the intention of pleasing ALLAH. Values such as trustworthiness, responsibility, sincerity, discipline, dedication, diligence, cleanliness, co-operation, good conduct, gratitude and moderation guide the principles by which human resources should be managed.
The core 11 principles of Islamic Human Resource Management are as follows.
In Islam every act should be accompanied by intentions, all actions should be for the sake of seeking pleasure of ALLAH. The Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) said: ‘Actions are recorded according to intention and a person will be rewarded or punished accordingly’. One of many implications of this principle in human resource management is that employees should be evaluated on the basis of their intended objectives, ideas, plans and strategies.
When filled with Taqwa, a person will refrain from wrong behaviour. Taqwa leads to steadfastness in seeking truth and justice because people should fear no one but one and only God. In the context of HR management, a manager will not hesitate to provide constructive criticism and advice if any wrong activities are taking place within the organisation.
Ihsan has several meanings. It includes helpfulness, perfection, improvement, forgiveness, completeness of faith and, most important of all, doing good deeds. Ihsan is also a continuous struggle to work towards attaining ALLAH’s satisfaction and to worship ALLAH as if you see Him and He sees you. This feeling makes the person behave at his/her best without the need for any human supervision. Managers with a high level of Ihsan promote the training and development of their employees and encourage employment involvement and participation in decision-making.
Justice is a virtue that every person should develop regardless of whether he/she is a leader or a subordinate. The Holy Quran says: ‘O you who have believed, be constantly upright for Allah, witnesses with equity, and let not antagonism of a people provoke you not to do justice….…’ (Al-Quran, Chapter 5, verse 8). In Islam, justice is never to be affected by personal interests or antagonism. Employees are treated and rewarded equally and fairly in organizations where justice prevails. Managers treat their subordinates with respect and courtesy, and never look down to them or ignore their views and suggestions. The laws, regulations, policies and procedures are clearly followed and effectively implemented.
The concept of trust is a core value governing social relationships. Every person is held accountable for his/her actions in the community. The Holy Quran states: ‘O you who have believed, do not betray Allah and the Messenger, or knowingly betray [other people’s] trust in you’ (Al-Quran, Chapter 8, verse 27). The manager is ‘ameen’ or a trustee. A manager should respect the trust bestowed on him by his superiors and subordinates. Any act of misuse of resources or mismanagement is seen as a violation of trust. An organization is a trust of those who own it and to those who work in it.
The concept of Sidq implies doing and saying what is right to the best of one’s knowledge. It is forbidden in Islam to lie or to cheat in all circumstances. Managers must not to be guided by their personal feelings that might divert them from the right path of justice, care and trustworthiness. They are asked to be patient, to fulfill their contractual duties, to be honest and to work hard, while seeking ALLAH’s love and mercy. Honesty and trustworthiness are central to effective management. The love of truth reflects the notion of personal responsibility for every uttered word.
This value implies the continuous struggle within oneself for self-betterment. Striving to do better all the time requires humans to work harder and improve the quality of their services. This value is related to a state of passion for excellence (Alfalah) and perfection. Creativity therefore becomes an indispensable value in one’s life because of the desire to perfect and excel in doing what is good for oneself and good for the community. In an organizational context, striving to do better all the time requires managers and employees to work harder and improve the quality of their products and services through the promotion of learning, training, innovation and creativity.
Pride and arrogance are not the behaviour of a true Muslim. In organisations, managers should seek advice and consult with their subordinates before making decisions. Taking part in discussions and making suggestions are key management values in Islam. The right way to make the best decision on worldly matters, in the absence of a prescribed text, is consultation or Shura. The principle of Shura teaches Muslim managers to value the views of their subordinates and to be humble in their dealings with other people.
Keeping promises is a moral obligation for every Muslim. It is a big sin to intentionally break any promises. Breaking one’s word characterizes a person among the hypocrites. ALLAH says, ‘O you who believe! fulfill (all) obligations’ (Al-Quran, Chapter 5, Verse 1).
A Muslim must be a sincere well-wisher for others. Sincerity, therefore, creates a culture of trust and cooperation between employees and employers within the organization.
Patience has a very high position in Islam. At the organisational level, patience and humility go hand in hand. Being patient in making decisions reduces the possibility of making mistakes and increasing the chances of success in negotiations.
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