MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, YOGYAKARTA – The commemoration of the International Labor Day 2026 was given deeper meaning in a Friday sermon delivered by Mhd Lailan Arqam, a member of Muhammadiyah Central Board’s Tabligh Council. The sermon took place at the Islamic Center Mosque of Ahmad Dahlan University on Friday (1/5).
Lailan urged congregants not to view the International Labor Day merely as a historical struggle for workers’ rights. Instead, he invited the congregants to also see it as a reflection of justice and humanitarian values in Islam. He recalled that the origins of International Labor Day lie in injustice, when workers were subjected to long hours with inadequate wages and rights, leading to social inequality across many parts of the world.
“The issue of labor is not simply about workers and their demands,” he said. “It is also about how we understand the meaning of work as a whole within an Islamic framework.”
Work as a Religious Command and Human Dignity
According to him, Islam does not view work as merely a transactional relationship between labor and wages. Rather, work is a noble activity with spiritual, social, and civilizational dimensions. He outlined five key principles of work in Islam.
First, work is a religious command. Islam encourages the ummah to be active, productive, and to avoid laziness. He cited verses from the Qur’an, including Surah Al-Jumu’ah (62:10): “And when the prayer has been concluded, disperse within the land and seek from the blessings of Allah.”
To strengthen the message, he also referred to Surah At-Taubah (9:105): “Say, ‘Work, for Allah will see your deeds, and so will His Messenger and the believers.’”
He further reminded the audience of prophetic traditions emphasizing that earning a livelihood through one’s own effort is better than begging, along with prayers seeking protection from weakness and laziness.
Second, work is a path to human dignity. Quoting Surah Al-Isra (17:10): “And We have certainly honored the children of Adam,” he stressed that human dignity is achieved through self-earned effort. The prophet also taught that no food is better than that earned by one’s own hands. “Work is not humiliation,” he said. “It is the source of human honor.”
Professionalism, Justice, and Civilizational Responsibility
Third, work must be carried out with professionalism and trustworthiness. He cited a hadith: “Indeed, Allah loves that when one of you does a job, he perfects it.”
In this regard, he emphasized integrity, quality, and responsibility in all forms of work, while rejecting corruption, manipulation, and negligence as violations of faith-based values.
Fourth, justice in labor relations is essential. Lailan stressed that both workers and employers must uphold fairness, including in fulfilling financial rights. He referred to the Qur’anic principle: “Indeed, Allah commands justice and excellence…”
He also cited a hadith: “Give the worker his wages before his sweat dries.” Lailan noted that injustice toward workers is not merely an economic issue, but a form of wrongdoing prohibited in Islam.
Fifth, work is a trust tied to civilization. He cited Surah Hud (11:61), which affirms that humans are created to cultivate the earth. Therefore, work should be understood as part of a broader responsibility to build a progressive civilization.
“Work is not only about meeting life’s needs,” he explained, “but also a manifestation of functional tawhid that connects worldly effort with ultimate, eternal purposes.”
In the second sermon, he reiterated the importance of piety (taqwa) as the foundation of life. He reminded the congregation that all activities, including work, must be grounded in sincere intention as acts of worship and a firm commitment to faith in Allah.
