The Work

An Islamic psychospiritual study

Eltaher Ali Eltaher Eldaffa
El Imam El Mahdi University, faculty of Arts & humanities, Psychology department
Kosti- Sudan
Abdulrahman Al-Sumait University, faculty of Arts & social Sciences, counseling & psychology
department
Zanzibar- Tanzania
Abstract
This is a psychospiritual study the aim of the study is about to search for the meaning of work
from psychology and Islamic perspective, the main problem of this study is about what is the
meaning of the work in psychology and Islamic perspective? The researcher used the qualitative
method. And to find the meaning of work the researcher will study the theoretical literature about
the work in psychology and the Qur’anic verses which include the word work. The researcher
found that the meaning of work in psychology, it refers to an individual’s interpretations of
his/her actual experiences and interactions at work, also it is about need to self-actualization.
Also, the work is consistency between oneself and one’s work, similar to a balance in one’s
personal relationship with work. But in Islam there a big difference; Islam define work as
worship (Ebadah). Therefore, the implication of the result of this research is lead to develop scale
of the meaning of work from Islamic psychology perspective.
Introduction:
What is work and what makes it meaningful? It must be admitted that we have never
really posed the problem of work within the context of human existence; we have mainly
addressed the problem of employment in an economic and sociological perspective. But we must
recall what Sigmund Freud affirmed: work, like love, is a vital necessity to the development of
the individual and of democratic society. Its scope is material, social, economic, psychological,
psychic and biological. It is time to take a serious interest in work and what work activity means
to the existence of individuals. (Morin,2008,p.1). but Islam ordered people for work before more
than 1400 years ago.
{ ‫}َو ُقِل ٱۡع َم ُلوْا َفَسَيَر ى ٱُهَّلل َع َم َلُك ۡم َو َر ُسوُل ۥُه َو ٱۡل ُم ۡؤ ِم ُنوَۖن َو َس ُتَر ُّد وَن ِإَلٰى َٰع ِلِم ٱۡل َغ ۡي ِب َو ٱلَّش َٰه َد ِة َفُيَنِّبُئُك م ِبَم ا ُك نُتۡم َتۡع َم ُلوَن‬:‫قال هللا تعالى‬
.)105:‫ التوبة‬،‫(القرآن الكريم‬

Allah said:(105) And say, “Do[as you will], for Allah will se your deeds, and [so, will] His
messenger and the believers. And you will be returned to the Knower of the unseen and the
witnessed, and He will inform you of what you used to do.”1

1
Sura-Al Tawba, Aya(105)
 )‫ وإَّن أوالَد ُك م من كسِبُك م‬،‫ (إَّن أطيَب ما َأَك لُتْم من كسِبُك م‬:‫ قال‬-‫صّلى هللا عليه وسّلم‬- ‫ عن النبّي‬،‫عن عائشة رضي هللا عنها‬2
And from Sunnah: 'Aa'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Prophet (may
Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The best thing you eat is from your earnings, and
your children are from your earnings."
From the above mentioned, the work is an important component for human live because Allah
(God) who create us ordered us to work.
Since the end of the 1980s, many studies have been conducted to explore the meaning of work,
particularly in psychology (Rosso, D, & Wrzesniewski,2010). Western psychology has developed
over the decades allowing the human condition to be analyzed, especially with regard to the
effect of childhood experiences on later life. However, this knowledge of the human psyche is
still largely the product of its historical cultural environment, that is a secular humanist vision
that prefers to see the mind more as machine that can be ‘understood’ and can even be mimicked
by Artificial Intelligence algorithms in a computer.( Badri.et al.2000,p.vii). A review of the
bibliographical data in PsychInfo shows that between 1974 and 2006, 183 studies addressed this
topic (Morin, 2006). Considering the recent and current evolution of work and the work context,
the meaning of work is becoming an increasingly relevant topic in research in the social sciences
and humanities, particularly in psychology. In order to understand and measure what contributes
to the meaning of work, Morin constructed a 30-item questionnaire that has become predominant
and has repeatedly been used in research in occupational psychology and by practitioners in the
field. Nevertheless, it has been validated only in part.(Pignault,A& Houssemand,C,2021).
Meaning of Work:
There many scholars are trying to define the meaning of work from different perspective, and
they found that it is hard to defined it. In terms of theory, it has been defined differently in
different academic fields. In psychology, it refers to an individual’s interpretations of his/her
actual experiences and interactions at work (Ros, S & Surkiss, 1999). From other field like
sociological perspective work, it involves assessing meaning in reference to a system of values
(Rosso et al., 2010). In this case, its definition depends on cultural or social differences, which
make explaining this concept even more complex.(Pignault,A & Houssemand,C,2021). At a
conceptual level, the meaning of work has been defined in three different ways (Morin, 2003).
First, it can refer to the meaning of work attached to an individual’s representations of work and
the values he/she attributes to that work (Morse & Weiss, 1955; MOW International Research
team, 1987). Second, it can refer to a personal preference for work as defined by the intentions
that guide personal action (Super & Sverko, 1995). Third, it can be understood as consistency
between oneself and one’s work, similar to a balance in one’s personal relationship with work
(Morin & Cherré, 2004).
Brief and Nord (1990) maintain that the only element that reconciles its multiple meanings is a
purposeful activity. Generally, work is defined as an expenditure of energy through a set of
coordinated activities intended to produce something useful (Firth, 1948; Fryer and Payne, 1984;
Shepherdson, 1984). It can be pleasant or unpleasant, and it can be associated (or not associated)
with economic exchanges. According to the interviews conducted by Fryer and Payne (1984),

2
(Narrated by Ibn Hazm)
work is a useful activity, determined by a definite purpose beyond the pleasure engendered by its
performance. With respect to terms, some differences exist because the meaning of work is
considered an individual’s interpretation of what work means or of the role it plays in one’s life
(Pratt & Ashforth, 2003). Yet this individual perception is also influenced by the environment
and the social context (Wrzesniewski et al., 2003). The psychological literature on the meaning
of work has primarily examined its positive aspects, even though work experiences can be
negative or neutral. This partiality about the nature of the meaning of work in research has led to
some confusion in the literature between this concept and that of meaningful, which refers to the
extent to which work has personal significance (a quantity) and seems to depend on positive
elements (Steger,& Duffy, 2012).
The original idea of the meaning of work refers to the central importance of work for people,
beyond the simple behavioral activity through which it occurs. Drawing on various historical
references, certain authors present work as an essential driver of human life; these scholars then
seek to understand how work is fundamental(Pignault,A& Houssemand,C,2021). Work can also
be a source of identity. It may give you a profession, conferring on you the status of an auto
mechanic, a beautician, a journalist, a nurse, a lawyer, or a teacher; often, along with wealth,
education, and connections, your job helps fix your social class(Appiah,2021).work mean the
familiar things we do in fields, factories, offices, schools, shops, building sites, call centers,
homes, and so on, to make a life and a living. Examples of work in our commercial society
include driving a taxi, selling washing machines, managing a group of software developers,
running a till in a supermarket, attaching screens to smartphones on an assembly line, fielding
customer complaints in a call center, and teaching in a school (Clark 2017, p.62). Whatever the
case may be, work is a very important activity for humans and for society. Work is primarily an
activity whereby a person inserts himself into the world, exercises his talents, defines himself,
actualizes his potential and creates value, which in return gives him a sense of accomplishment
and personal effectiveness, and possibly even a meaning to life. (Morin,2008,p.2).
From the above all meanings the researcher defines the work is: an individual state of self-
satisfaction for doing something to himself and people can benefit from it.
The Qur’anic verses that talked about the work
The Qur'an is the book of Allah revealed to his Messenger Muhammad peace be upon him and it
is the book that falsehood does not come from his hands or behind him. in this section the
researcher reviews some Qur’anic verses that mentioned the word work. The word (work) in
Qur’an mentioned as (labor, business, action and, job) many times in these verses:
‫ِإَّن اَّلِذ يَن آَم ُنوا َو اَّلِذ يَن َهاُدوا َو الَّنَص اَر ٰى َو الَّصاِبِئيَن َم ْن آَم َن ِباِهَّلل َو اْلَيْو ِم اآْل ِخ ِر َو َع ِمَل َص اِلًحا َفَلُهْم َأْج ُر ُهْم ِع نَد َر ِّبِه ْم َو اَل َخ ْو ٌف‬
)62:‫ البقرة‬،‫َع َلْيِهْم َو اَل ُهْم َيْح َز ُنوَن (القرآن الكريم‬.
(Al-Qur’an Al-Kareem, Al-Baghara:62). Indeed, those who believed and those who were Jews or
Christians or Sabeans [before Prophet Muhammad] - those [among them] who believed in Allah
and the Last Day and did righteousness - will have their reward with their Lord, and no fear will
there be concerning them, nor will they grieve.
 ‫ِإَّن اَّلِذ يَن آَم ُنوا َو اَّلِذ يَن َهاُدوا َو الَّصاِبُئوَن َو الَّنَص اَر ٰى َم ْن آَم َن ِباِهَّلل َو اْلَيْو ِم اآْل ِخ ِر َو َع ِمَل َص اِلًحا َفاَل َخ ْو ٌف َع َلْيِهْم َو اَل ُهْم َيْح َز ُنوَن‬
)69 :‫ المائدة‬،‫(القرآن الكريم‬
(Al-Qur’an Al-Kareem, AL-Maaida:69) Indeed, those who have believed [in Prophet
Muhammad] and those [before Him] who were Jews or Sabeans or Christians - those [among
them] who believed in Allah and the Last Day and did righteousness - no fear will there be
concerning them, nor will they grieve.

‫َو ِإَذ ا َج اَء َك اَّلِذ يَن ُيْؤ ِم ُنوَن ِبآَياِتَنا َفُقْل َس اَل ٌم َع َلْيُك ْم ۖ َكَتَب َر ُّبُك ْم َع َلٰى َنْفِسِه الَّرْح َم َةۖ َأَّنُه َم ْن َع ِمَل ِم نُك ْم ُسوًء ا ِبَجَهاَلٍة ُثَّم َتاَب ِم ن َبْع ِدِه‬
)54 :‫ االنعام‬،‫َو َأْص َلَح َفَأَّنُه َغ ُفوٌر َّر ِح يٌم (القرآن الكريم‬
(Al-Qur’an Al-Kareem, AL-An’aam 54) And when those come to you who believe in Our
verses, say, "Peace be upon you. Your Lord has decreed upon Himself mercy: that any of you
who does wrong out of ignorance and then repents after that and corrects himself - indeed, He is
Forgiving and Merciful.
،‫َم ْن َع ِمَل َص اِلًحا ِّم ن َذ َك ٍر َأْو ُأنَثٰى َو ُهَو ُم ْؤ ِم ٌن َفَلُنْح ِيَيَّنُه َحَياًة َطِّيَبًةۖ َو َلَنْج ِز َيَّنُهْم َأْج َر ُهم ِبَأْح َس ِن َم ا َك اُنوا َيْع َم ُلوَن (القرآن الكريم‬
)97:‫النحل‬
(Al-Qur’an Al-Kareem, An- Nahl:97) Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female,
while he is a believer - We will surely cause him to live a good life, and We will surely give them
their reward [in the Hereafter] according to the best of what they used to do.
‫)) َو َأَّم ا َم ْن آَم َن َو َع ِمَل َص اِلًحا َفَلُه َج َزاًء اْلُحْسَنٰى ۖ َو َس َنُقوُل َلُه ِم ْن َأْم ِرَنا ُيْسًرا‬88:‫ الكهف‬،‫القرآن الكريم‬
(Al-Qur’an Al-Kareem, Al-Kahf:88). But as for one who believes and does righteousness, he
will have a reward of Paradise, and we will speak to him from our command with ease.
)60 :‫ مريم‬،‫ِإاَّل َم ن َتاَب َو آَم َن َو َع ِمَل َص اِلًحا َفُأوَٰل ِئَك َيْدُخ ُلوَن اْلَج َّنَة َو اَل ُيْظَلُم وَن َشْيًئا (القرآن الكريم‬
(Al-Qur’an Al-Kareem, Maryam:60). Except those who repent, believe and do righteousness;
for those will enter Paradise and will not be wronged at all.
)75:‫ طه‬،‫َو َم ن َيْأِتِه ُم ْؤ ِم ًنا َقْد َع ِمَل الَّصاِلَح اِت َفُأوَٰل ِئَك َلُهُم الَّد َر َج اُت اْلُع َلٰى (القرآن الكريم‬
(Al-Qur’an Al-Kareem, Taa-Haa:75) But whoever comes to Him as a believer having done righteous
deeds - for those will be the highest degrees [in position]

)82:‫ طه‬،‫َو ِإِّني َلَغ َّفاٌر ِّلَم ن َتاَب َو آَم َن َو َع ِمَل َص اِلًحا ُثَّم اْهَتَد ٰى (القرآن الكريم‬
(Al-Qur’an Al-Kareem, Taa-Haa:82) But indeed, I am the Perpetual Forgiver of whoever repents
and believes and does righteousness and then continues in guidance.
)70:‫ الفرقان‬،‫ِإاَّل َم ن َتاَب َو آَم َن َو َع ِمَل َع َم اًل َص اِلًحا َفُأوَٰل ِئَك ُيَبِّدُل ُهَّللا َس ِّيَئاِتِه ْم َحَس َناٍتۗ َو َك اَن ُهَّللا َغ ُفوًرا َّر ِح يًم ا (القرآن الكريم‬
(Al-Qur’an Al-Kareem, Al-Furgaan:70) Except for those who repent, believe and do righteous
work. For them Allah will replace their evil deeds with good. And ever is Allah Forgiving and
Merciful.
)71:‫ الفرقان‬،‫َو َم ن َتاَب َو َع ِمَل َص اِلًحا َفِإَّنُه َيُتوُب ِإَلى ِهَّللا َم َتاًبا (القرآن الكريم‬
(Al-Qur’an Al-Kareem, Al-Furgaan:71) And he who repents and does righteousness does indeed
turn to Allah with [accepted] repentance.
)67:‫ القصص‬،‫َفَأَّم ا َم ن َتاَب َو آَم َن َو َع ِمَل َص اِلًحا َفَعَس ٰى َأن َيُك وَن ِم َن اْلُم ْفِلِح يَن (القرآن الكريم‬
(Al-Qur’an Al-Kareem, Al-Qasas:67). But as for one who had repented, believed, and done
righteousness, it is promised by Allah that he will be among the successful.
)80:‫ القصص‬،‫َو َقاَل اَّلِذ يَن ُأوُتوا اْلِع ْلَم َو ْيَلُك ْم َثَو اُب ِهَّللا َخْيٌر ِّلَم ْن آَم َن َو َع ِمَل َص اِلًحا َو اَل ُيَلَّقاَها ِإاَّل الَّصاِبُروَن (القرآن الكريم‬
(Al-Qur’an Al-Kareem, Al-Qasas:67). But those who had been given knowledge said, "Woe to
you! The reward of Allah is better for he who believes and does righteousness. And none are
granted it except the patient."
)44:‫ الروم‬،‫َم ن َكَفَر َفَع َلْيِه ُك ْفُر ُهۖ َو َم ْن َع ِمَل َص اِلًحا َفَأِلنُفِس ِهْم َيْمَهُد وَن (القرآن الكريم‬
(Al-Qur’an Al-Kareem, Ar-Room:44). Whoever disbelieves - upon him is [the consequence of]
his disbelief. And whoever does righteousness - they are for themselves preparing,
‫َو َم ا َأْم َو اُلُك ْم َو اَل َأْو اَل ُد ُك م ِباَّلِتي ُتَقِّرُبُك ْم ِع نَدَنا ُز ْلَفٰى ِإاَّل َم ْن آَم َن َو َع ِمَل َص اِلًحا َفُأوَٰل ِئَك َلُهْم َج َزاُء الِّضْع ِف ِبَم ا َع ِم ُلوا َو ُهْم ِفي‬
)37:‫ سبأ‬،‫اْلُغ ُر َفاِت آِم ُنوَن (القرآن الكريم‬
(Al-Qur’an Al-Kareem, Saba:37). And it is not your wealth or your children that bring you
nearer to Us in position, but it is [by being] one who has believed and done righteousness. For
them there will be the double reward for what they did, and they will be in the upper chambers
[of Paradise], safe [and secure].
‫ُأ َٰل‬ ‫ُأ‬
‫َم ْن َع ِمَل َس ِّيَئًة َفاَل ُيْج َزٰى ِإاَّل ِم ْثَلَهاۖ َو َم ْن َع ِمَل َص اِلًحا ِّم ن َذ َك ٍر َأْو نَثٰى َو ُهَو ُم ْؤ ِم ٌن َف و ِئَك َيْدُخ ُلوَن اْلَج َّنَة ُيْر َز ُقوَن ِفيَها ِبَغْيِر‬
)40:‫ غافر‬،‫ِحَس اٍب (القرآن الكريم‬
(Al-Qur’an Al-Kareem, Ghaafir:40). Whoever does an evil deed will not be recompensed except
by the like thereof; but whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a
believer - those will enter Paradise, being given provision therein without account.
)33:‫ فصلت‬،‫َو َم ْن َأْح َس ُن َقْو اًل ِّمَّم ن َدَعا ِإَلى ِهَّللا َو َع ِمَل َص اِلًحا َو َقاَل ِإَّنِني ِم َن اْلُم ْس ِلِم يَن (القرآن الكريم‬
(Al-Qur’an Al-Kareem, Fussilat:33). And who is better in speech than one who invites to Allah
and does righteousness and says, "Indeed, I am of the Muslims."
)46:‫ فصلت‬،‫من َع ِمَل َص اِلًحا َفِلَنْفِسِهۖ َو َم ْن َأَس اَء َفَع َلْيَهاۗ َو َم ا َر ُّبَك ِبَظاَّل ٍم ِّلْلَع ِبيِد (القرآن الكريم‬
(Al-Qur’an Al-Kareem, Fussilat:46). Whoever does righteousness - it is for his [own] soul; and
whoever does evil [does so] against it. And your Lord is not ever unjust to [His] servants.
)15 :‫ الجاثية‬،‫َم ْن َع ِمَل َص اِلًحا َفِلَنْفِسِهۖ َو َم ْن َأَس اَء َفَع َلْيَهاۖ ُثَّم ِإَلٰى َر ِّبُك ْم ُتْر َج ُعوَن (القرآن الكريم‬
(Al-Qur’an Al-Kareem, Al-Jaathiya:15). Whoever does a good deed - it is for himself; and
whoever does evil - it is against the self. Then to your Lord you will be returned.
From the above-mentioned verses, the word (work) means something people can do even if
Ebadah(worship), or action. Another thing the work can be right work or wrong work.
Also, the word work mentioned in Qur’an as (present, tense and command verb like:
)74:‫ األنبياء‬،‫َو ُلوًطا آَتْيَناُه ُح ْك ًم ا َوِع ْلًم ا َو َنَّجْيَناُه ِم َن اْلَقْر َيِة اَّلِتي َك اَنت َّتْع َم ُل اْلَخ َباِئَث ۗ ِإَّنُهْم َك اُنوا َقْو َم َس ْو ٍء َفاِس ِقيَن (القرآن الكريم‬
(Al-Qur’an Al-Kareem, Al-Anbiyaa:74). And to Lot We gave judgement and knowledge, and We saved
him from the city that was committing wicked deeds. Indeed, they were a people of evil, defiantly
disobedient.
)31 :‫ األحزاب‬،‫َو َم ن َيْقُنْت ِم نُك َّن ِهَّلِل َو َر ُسوِلِه َو َتْع َم ْل َص اِلًحا ُّنْؤ ِتَها َأْج َر َها َم َّرَتْيِن َو َأْعَتْد َنا َلَها ِر ْز ًقا َك ِر يًم ا (القرآن الكريم‬
And whoever of you devoutly obeys Allah and His .)Al-Qur’an Al-Kareem, Al-Ahzaab:31(
Messenger and does righteousness - We will give her her reward twice; and We have prepared
.for her a noble provision
In this revers (Al-Ahzaab:31) Allah Subhanahu Wataala (God Almighty) spoke directly to women
if a women obey and did right work, she gave twice rewards. The researcher thinks that the
woman has great role that she doing beside worship and because of that Allah gave her twice
.rewards as reinforcement
‫ُثَّم َقَس ْت ُقُلوُبُك م ِّم ن َبْع ِد َٰذ ِلَك َفِهَي َك اْلِح َج اَرِة َأْو َأَشُّد َقْس َو ًةۚ َوِإَّن ِم َن اْلِح َج اَرِة َلَم ا َيَتَفَّجُر ِم ْنُه اَأْلْنَهاُرۚ َو ِإَّن ِم ْنَها َلَم ا َيَّشَّقُق َفَيْخ ُرُج ِم ْنُه‬
)74:‫ البقرة‬،‫اْلَم اُء ۚ َو ِإَّن ِم ْنَها َلَم ا َيْهِبُط ِم ْن َخ ْش َيِة ِهَّللاۗ َو َم ا ُهَّللا ِبَغاِفٍل َع َّم ا َتْع َم ُلوَن (القرآن الكريم‬
(Al-Qur’an Al-Kareem, Al-Bagara:74). Then your hearts became hardened after that, being like
stones or even harder. For indeed, there are stones from which rivers burst forth, and there are
some of them that split open and water comes out, and there are some of them that fall down for
fear of Allah. And Allah is not unaware of what you do.

‫ُثَّم َأنُتْم َٰه ُؤاَل ِء َتْقُتُلوَن َأنُفَس ُك ْم َو ُتْخ ِر ُجوَن َفِر يًقا ِّم نُك م ِّم ن ِدَياِر ِهْم َتَظاَهُروَن َع َلْيِهم ِباِإْل ْثِم َو اْلُع ْد َو اِن َو ِإن َيْأُتوُك ْم ُأَس اَر ٰى ُتَفاُدوُهْم َو ُهَو‬
‫َٰذ‬
‫ُمَح َّر ٌم َع َلْيُك ْم ِإْخ َر اُجُهْم ۚ َأَفُتْؤ ِم ُنوَن ِبَبْع ِض اْلِكَتاِب َو َتْكُفُروَن ِبَبْع ٍضۚ َفَم ا َج َز اُء َم ن َيْفَع ُل ِلَك ِم نُك ْم ِإاَّل ِخ ْز ٌي ِفي اْلَحَياِة الُّد ْنَياۖ َو َيْو َم‬
)85 :‫ البقرة‬،‫اْلِقَياَم ِة ُيَر ُّد وَن ِإَلٰى َأَشِّد اْلَع َذ اِبۗ َو َم ا ُهَّللا ِبَغاِفٍل َع َّم ا َتْع َم ُلوَن (القرآن الكريم‬
(Al-Qur’an Al-Kareem, Al-Bagara:85). Then, you are those [same ones who are] killing one
another and evicting a party of your people from their homes, cooperating against them in sin
and aggression. And if they come to you as captives, you ransom them, although their eviction
was forbidden to you. So do you believe in part of the Scripture and disbelieve in part? Then
what is the recompense for those who do that among you except disgrace in worldly life; and on
the Day of Resurrection they will be sent back to the severest of punishment. And Allah is not
unaware of what you do.
(Al-Qur’an Al-Kareem, Al-Bagara:74-85-110-140-149-233-234-237-265-271-283). And in (Aal-
Imraan 153-156-180. An-Nisaa 49-128-135. Al-Maaida 8-105. Al-An’aam 60. Al-A’raaf 43. Al-
Anfaal 72. Al-Tawba 16-94-105. Yunus 14- 23. Hud 92-112-123. An-Nahl 28-32-93. Al-hajj 68.
Al-Muminoon 51- An-Noor 28. Al-Ankaboot 8- 55. Lugman 15- 29. As-Sajda 14. Al-Ahzaab 2-
9. Saba 11-25. Yaseen 54. Al-Saaffaat 39-96. Fussilat 22-40. Az-Zukhruf 72. Al-Jathiyaa 28-29.
Al-Fath 11-24. Al-Hujuraat 18. At-Tur 16-19. Al-Hadid 4-10. Al-Mujaadila 3-11-13. Al-Hashr
18. Al-Jumu’ah 8. Al-Munaafiqoon 11. At-Taghaabun 2-8. At-Tahrim 7. Al-Mursalaat 43.
In all the above Qur'anic verses the word action comes as a result of what people do, and the
important theme here is that all the works that people do are known by Allah. Also, the result of
the work done by the people comes into the plural, which emphasizes the need for teamwork.
The word work in whole Qur’an comes as command in nine verses:
1- ،‫ُقْل َيا َقْو ِم اْع َم ُلوا َع َلٰى َم َكاَنِتُك ْم ِإِّني َعاِم ٌلۖ َفَس ْو َف َتْع َلُم وَن َم ن َتُك وُن َلُه َعاِقَبُة الَّد اِر ۗ ِإَّنُه اَل ُيْفِلُح الَّظاِلُم وَن (القرآن الكريم‬
)135 :‫االنعام‬
(Al-Qur’an Al-Kareem, Al-An’aam: 135). Say, "O my people, work according to your position;
[for] indeed, I am working. And you are going to know who will have succession in the home.
Indeed, the wrongdoers will not succeed.
2- ‫َو ُقِل اْع َم ُلوا َفَسَيَر ى ُهَّللا َع َم َلُك ْم َو َر ُسوُلُه َو اْلُم ْؤ ِم ُنوَن ۖ َو َس ُتَر ُّد وَن ِإَلٰى َعاِلِم اْلَغْيِب َو الَّش َهاَد ِة َفُيَنِّبُئُك م ِبَم ا ُك نُتْم َتْع َم ُلوَن (القرآن‬
)105 :‫ التوبة‬،‫الكريم‬
(Al-Qur’an Al-Kareem, Al-tawba: 105). And say, “Do[as you will], for Allah will see your deeds,
and [so, will] His messenger and the believers. And you will be returned to the Knower of the
unseen and the witnessed, and He will inform you of what you used to do.”
‫َيا َقْو ِم اْع َم ُلوا َع َلٰى َم َكاَنِتُك ْم ِإِّني َعاِم ٌلۖ َس ْو َف َتْع َلُم وَن َم ن َيْأِتيِه َع َذ اٌب ُيْخ ِزيِه َو َم ْن ُهَو َك اِذ ٌب ۖ َو اْر َتِقُبوا ِإِّني َم َع ُك ْم َرِقيٌب‬3-
)93 :‫ هود‬،‫(القرآن الكريم‬
(Al-Qur’an Al-Kareem, Hud:93). And O my people, work according to your position; indeed, I
am working. You are going to know to whom will come a punishment that will disgrace him and
who is a liar. So watch; indeed, I am with you a watcher, [awaiting the outcome]."
)121 :‫ هود‬،‫َو ُقل ِّلَّلِذ يَن اَل ُيْؤ ِم ُنوَن اْع َم ُلوا َع َلٰى َم َكاَنِتُك ْم ِإَّنا َعاِم ُلوَن (القرآن الكريم‬4-
(Al-Qur’an Al-Kareem, Hud:121). And say to those who do not believe, "Work according to your
position; indeed, we are working.
(51 :‫ المؤمنون‬،‫ )القرآن الكريم‬5 - ‫َيا َأُّيَها الُّر ُسُل ُك ُلوا ِم َن الَّطِّيَباِت َو اْع َم ُلوا َص اِلًحاۖ ِإِّني ِبَم ا َتْع َم ُلوَن َع ِليٌم‬
(Al-Qur’an Al-Kareem, Al-Muminoon 51). [Allah said], "O messengers, eat from the good foods
and work righteousness. Indeed, I, of what you do, am Knowing.
(11 :‫ سبأ‬،‫ )القرآن الكريم‬6-‫َأِن اْع َم ْل َس اِبَغاٍت َو َقِّدْر ِفي الَّسْر ِد ۖ َو اْع َم ُلوا َص اِلًحاۖ ِإِّني ِبَم ا َتْع َم ُلوَن َبِص يٌر‬
Make full coats of mail and calculate " ,]Commanding him[ .)Al-Qur’an Al-Kareem, Saba:11(
".[precisely] the links, and work [all of you] righteousness. Indeed I, of what you do, am Seeing
‫َيْع َم ُلوَن َلُه َم ا َيَش اُء ِم ن َّمَح اِر يَب َو َتَم اِثيَل َو ِج َفاٍن َك اْلَج َو اِب َو ُقُدوٍر َّراِسَياٍتۚ اْع َم ُلوا آَل َداُووَد ُشْك ًراۚ َو َقِليٌل ِّم ْن ِعَباِدَي الَّشُك وُر‬-7
)13 :‫ سبأ‬،‫(القرآن الكريم‬
(Al-Qur’an Al-Kareem, Saba:13). They made for him what he willed of elevated chambers,
statues, bowls like reservoirs, and stationary kettles. [We said], "Work, O family of David, in
gratitude." And few of My servants are grateful.
(39 :‫ الزمر‬،‫ )القرآن الكريم‬8- ‫ُقْل َيا َقْو ِم اْع َم ُلوا َع َلٰى َم َكاَنِتُك ْم ِإِّني َعاِم ٌلۖ َفَس ْو َف َتْع َلُم وَن‬
(Al-Qur’an Al-Kareem,Az-Zumar:39). Say, "O my people, work according to your position, [for]
indeed, I am working; and you are going to know
9- ‫ِإَّن اَّلِذ يَن ُيْلِح ُد وَن ِفي آَياِتَنا اَل َيْخ َفْو َن َع َلْيَناۗ َأَفَم ن ُيْلَقٰى ِفي الَّناِر َخْيٌر َأم َّم ن َيْأِتي آِم ًنا َيْو َم اْلِقَياَم ِةۚ اْع َم ُلوا َم ا ِش ْئُتْم ۖ ِإَّنُه ِبَم ا‬
)40:‫ فصلت‬،‫َتْع َم ُلوَن َبِص يٌر (القرآن الكريم‬
(Al-Qur’an Al-Kareem, Fussilat:40). Indeed, those who inject deviation into Our verses are not
concealed from Us. So, is he who is cast into the Fire better or he who comes secure on the Day
of Resurrection? Do whatever you will; indeed, He is Seeing of what you do.
Therefore, the work in Islam it is not just matter of earning money, or grazing cattle, doing
business, but the work in Islam is Ebadah(worship). Therefore, any kind of work that you did
must align with Islamic divine this mean if your business man you work must be according to
Islam, if you are a farmer, you must a Muslim farmer, if you are employee, you must be a
Muslim employee…etc.
In addition to that work mention in Qur'an as a profession like; commerce, plowing, farming and
.grazing
‫َيا َأُّيَها اَّلِذ يَن آَم ُنوا اَل َتْأُك ُلوا َأْم َو اَلُك م َبْيَنُك م ِباْلَباِط ِل ِإاَّل َأن َتُك وَن ِتَج اَر ًة َعن َتَر اٍض ِّم نُك ْم ۚ َو اَل َتْقُتُلوا َأنُفَس ُك ْم ۚ ِإَّن َهَّللا َك اَن ِبُك ْم َر ِح يًم ا‬
)29:‫ النساء‬،‫(القرآن الكريم‬
(Al-Qur’an Al-Kareem, An-Nisaa: 29). O you who have believed, do not consume one another's
wealth unjustly but only [in lawful] business by mutual consent. And do not kill yourselves [or
one another]. Indeed, Allah is to you ever Merciful.
‫ُقْل ِإن َك اَن آَباُؤ ُك ْم َو َأْبَناُؤ ُك ْم َو ِإْخ َو اُنُك ْم َو َأْز َو اُج ُك ْم َو َع ِش يَر ُتُك ْم َو َأْم َو اٌل اْقَتَر ْفُتُم وَها َو ِتَج اَر ٌة َتْخ َش ْو َن َك َس اَدَها َو َم َس اِكُن َتْر َض ْو َنَها َأَح َّب‬
)24:‫ التوبة‬،‫ِإَلْيُك م ِّم َن ِهَّللا َو َر ُسوِلِه َو ِج َهاٍد ِفي َس ِبيِلِه َفَتَر َّبُصوا َح َّتٰى َيْأِتَي ُهَّللا ِبَأْم ِر ِهۗ َو ُهَّللا اَل َيْهِد ي اْلَقْو َم اْلَفاِس ِقيَن (القرآن الكريم‬
(Al-Qur’an Al-Kareem, At-Tawba: 24). Say, [O Muhammad], "If your fathers, your sons, your
brothers, your wives, your relatives, wealth which you have obtained, commerce wherein you
fear decline, and dwellings with which you are pleased are more beloved to you than Allah and
His Messenger and jihad in His cause, then wait until Allah executes His command. And Allah
does not guide the defiantly disobedient people."
‫َو ِإَذ ا َر َأْو ا ِتَج اَر ًة َأْو َلْهًو ا انَفُّض وا ِإَلْيَها َو َتَر ُك وَك َقاِئًم اۚ ُقْل َم ا ِع نَد ِهَّللا َخْيٌر ِّم َن الَّلْهِو َوِم َن الِّتَج اَرِةۚ َو ُهَّللا َخْيُر الَّراِز ِقيَن (القرآن‬
)11 :‫ الجمعة‬،‫الكريم‬
(Al-Qur’an Al-Kareem, Al-Jum’a). But when they saw a transaction or a diversion, [O
Muhammad], they rushed to it and left you standing. Say, "What is with Allah is better than
diversion and than a transaction, and Allah is the best of providers."
‫ُز ِّيَن ِللَّناِس ُحُّب الَّشَهَو اِت ِم َن الِّنَس اِء َو اْلَبِنيَن َو اْلَقَناِط يِر اْلُم َقنَطَرِة ِم َن الَّذ َهِب َو اْلِفَّض ِة َو اْلَخْيِل اْلُم َسَّو َم ِة َو اَأْلْنَع اِم َو اْلَح ْر ِثۗ َٰذ ِلَك‬
)14 :‫ آل عمران‬،‫َم َتاُع اْلَحَياِة الُّد ْنَياۖ َو ُهَّللا ِع نَد ُه ُح ْسُن اْلَم آِب (القرآن الكريم‬
(Al-Qur’an Al-Kareem, Aal-Imraan: 14). Beautified for people is the love of that which they
desire - of women and sons, heaped-up sums of gold and silver, fine branded horses, and cattle
and tilled land. That is the enjoyment of worldly life, but Allah has with Him the best return.
،‫َم ن َك اَن ُيِريُد َح ْر َث اآْل ِخَرِة َنِزْد َلُه ِفي َح ْر ِثِهۖ َو َم ن َك اَن ُيِريُد َح ْر َث الُّد ْنَيا ُنْؤ ِتِه ِم ْنَها َو َم ا َلُه ِفي اآْل ِخَر ِة ِم ن َّنِص يٍب (القرآن الكريم‬
)20 :‫الشورى‬
(Al-Qur’an Al-Kareem, Ash-Shura:20). Whoever desires the harvest of the Hereafter - We
increase for him in his harvest. And whoever desires the harvest of this world - We give him
thereof, but there is not for him in the Hereafter any share.
)47 :‫ يوسف‬،‫َقاَل َتْز َر ُع وَن َس ْبَع ِسِنيَن َد َأًبا َفَم ا َحَص دُّتْم َفَذ ُروُه ِفي ُسنُبِلِه ِإاَّل َقِلياًل ِّمَّم ا َتْأُك ُلوَن (القرآن الكريم‬
(Al-Qur’an Al-Kareem, Yusuf:20). [Joseph] said, "You will plant for seven years consecutively;
and what you harvest leave in its spikes, except a little from which you will eat.
)64:‫ الواقعة‬،‫َأَأنُتْم َتْز َر ُع وَنُه َأْم َنْح ُن الَّز اِرُع وَن (القرآن الكريم‬
(Al-Qur’an Al-Kareem, Al-Waaqia:64). Is it you who makes it grow, or are We the grower?
)54:‫ طه‬،‫ُلوا َو اْر َعْو ا َأْنَع اَم ُك ْم ۗ ِإَّن ِفي َٰذ ِلَك آَل َياٍت ُأِّلوِلي الُّنَهٰى (القرآن الكريم‬
Eat [therefrom] and pasture your livestock. Indeed, in that .)Al-Qur’an Al-Kareem, Taa-Haa: 54(
.are signs for those of intelligence
Discussion of the result and conclusion
from the theoretical literature of psychology about the word. The researcher found that the
meaning of work in general is human behavior lead to self-actualization and needs satisfactions.
But in Islamic perspective the work is more than just satisfaction or human needs, work in
Islamic perspective is worship (Ebadah), and command from God (Allah). The significance of
this research is that it is one of the few studies-to the limit of researcher knowledge- that dealt
with the subject of work from an Islamic psychological point of view. The results of this research
are useful in constructing scale of the meaning of work from Islamic perspective.
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