Story of two candles illuminates importance of integrity

Employees should not misuse work resources for their own interests if they wish to maintain their integrity.

Moral values are highlighted in Islamic teaching, and integrity is one of the main ethics that the Prophet Mohammed pointed to on many occasions.

An “outstanding form of honesty is loyalty towards one’s work and it has a great effect on society”, today’s sermon says.

The sermon cites the example of the caliph Umar bin Abdul Aziz, who had two candles to light his office. He used the stateowned candle when writing official letters and his own candle for writing personal letters.

“A loyal employee will also be committed to his work and will never accept a bribe or a gift that was given for an unlawful purpose,” the sermon says.

For instance, when the Prophet used to send Abdullah ibn Rawaha to Khaybar to divide fruit crops with the Jews of Khaybar, they offered him some of their women’s jewellery and said : “This is yours. Go light on us and don’t be exact in the division.”

He replied: “What you have offered as a bribe is forbidden. We will not touch it.”

They said: “This is [ justice] what supports the heavens and the Earth.”

Another form of integrity is to avoid asking for extra money when not needed.

And as the Prophet’s companion Hakim bin Hizam reported: “I begged the Messenger of Allah and he gave me; I begged him again and he gave me. I begged him again and he gave me and said: ‘O Hakim, wealth is pleasant and sweet. He who acquires it with self-contentment, it becomes a source of blessing for him; but it is not blessed for him who seeks it out of greed. He is like one who goes on eating but his hunger is not satisfied. The upper hand is better than the lower one.”

Hakim then vowed to never beg for money again. And when he was summoned by the first and second caliphs Abu Bakr Al Siddiq and Omar bin Al Khattab to receive some rations, he refused to accept them.