Who makes the Oppressor? This question came to my mind while I was in the mosque offering my prayers along with my friend and his boss. Most people at my friend's workplace complained about this boss because he is unjust, has bad manners and condones many unethical actions and decisions.
Yet, he goes to the mosque every day to offer prayers and would rebuke those who don't offer prayers on time. I wanted to discuss the relationship between worship and oppressive behaviour with the ‘boss' but my friend rejected the idea because he was concerned about me and his position at work.
Ethics and good manners do not exist in places of worship alone and I believe that justice is not applied only with family members. Professional life requires ethics that do not change with situations or circumstances. An honest and fair person in the mosque should practice honesty and fairness at his workplace as well. One day, these fake masks some like to wear at the workplace will drop and people will discover the truth behind the disguise.
Some would argue that in the West, there is no room for emotions and that people there leave their emotions and good manners at home before going to work. This partial and marginal understanding of business administration techniques makes them live a daily paradox between life values and work values. The West ignored the fact that management sciences in the West have explained, in detail, all workplace ethical issues. Workplace ethics are taught to university students and are applied by law in public and private institutions.
This contradiction is very obvious in some institutions where work ethics do not exist whilst injustice and prejudice are practised therefore employees' rights are lost in the name of ‘work interest'.
Unfortunately, we've seen various examples where the unjust director or manager wins due to the lack of clear guidelines that in most cases have not been implemented and therefore continues the unjust treatment of the employees. That's why we see that some directors and managers take certain happenings in the workplace personally rather than stand for ethical standards, in turn applying their own policies to get back at the employees.
These directors and managers do not welcome advice or suggestions from people around them. Instead, they abuse the ‘temporary' authority given to them thinking that it will remain forever. How wrong are they!
The oppressors would always find justifications for their injustices and often ignore the fact that their actions are unjust and find their support from a few associates and beneficiaries of the position.
The Prophet Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him) was called the Wise and Honest in a pagan and ignorant society. His good manners and qualities did not change after the Revelation. He is the prophet of mercy and a real example of a man of faith and state. Allah describes him in the Quran saying: "And indeed, you are of a great moral character." (Surat Al Qalam: verse 4)
Who makes the oppressor?
Is it circumstances? Or does our weakness make them stronger?
The late scholar Mustafa Mahmoud writes in one of his memoirs, "We help in the creation of tyrants. Rather, we create them and shape them with our own hands." Indeed, nations can create their good or unjust rulers.
One of the oldest known dictatorships was that of the Pharaoh (a man). Allah describes him in one of verses of the Quran "So he bluffed his people, and they obeyed him" (Surat Az Zukhruf, verse: 54). On the other hand, one of the oldest known democracies is that of the Queen of Sheba (a woman) who said, "O eminent ones, advise me in my affair. I would not decide a matter until you witness [for] me" (Surat An Naml, verse: 32)
It is said that absolute power is absolute corruption. Power and authority make the oppressor blind so that he cannot see justice.
This blindness may take sometime before the oppressor wakes up to find him or herself powerless after having lost their position. Ironically, he or she would curse, whine and complain about oppression and the oppressors.
Jamal Al Shehhi is an Emirati writer.
