Quran And Management

Normal 0towards companions and followers, and second, the
Management today is defined as  "getting thingsadoption of participatory approach when dealing with
done through  others." Following this  concept,  athem i.e. consulting them, is the most effective way
Manager is now understood as  the person whoof management. If this golden rule is not observed
works through  others. A good manager, therefore,then "they will disappear from you" i.e. they won't
is a  person who not only knows what is to be pay attention nor any interest in you or what your
done but exactly how to get it done. work entails.
The Holy Quran confirms:Both these golden rules play vital role in the
[43:32]motivation of subordinates and inculcating in them the
"...We raise some of  them above others in ranks, spirit of commitment and passion for work.
so that some may command  work from others..."THE CORNERSTONE OF TOYOTA'S SUCCES:
This Ayah (43:32) encompasses the  entireELIMINATION OF WASTE
philosophy and wisdom of modern  management. ItWastage - either in terms of material, human capital,
emphasizes, in essence, the  creation of appropriateenergy, machine utilization, or processing time,
hierarchies and thedivision of responsibilities subjectcreates inefficiencies resulting in the increase of costs
to  individual capabilities.and consequent decrease in profits.
Quran and  Modern ManagementThe Holy Quran says:
[17:26] "And render to the kindred their due rights, as
The Holy Quran has also laid down the  institutional(also) to those in want, and to the wayfarer. But
framework for putting this  golden rule into practice:waste not (your wealth, time, health, talents,
1.Obedience and Respect for Authority;opportunities etc) in the manner of a spendthrift."
2.Principles of Equal Opportunities; and[17:27] "For the wasteful are the brothers of Satan;
3.Motivation and Commitment.and Satan is ungrateful to his Lord."
OBEDIENCE AND  RESPECT FOR AUTHORITY[7:31] "O Children of Adam! wear your beautiful
Obedience and respect for authority is the basicapparel at every time and place of prayer: eat and
fundamental requisite for taking work from othersdrink: But waste not by excess, for Allah loveth not
and getting it done. Working through people actuallythe wasters."
presupposes the willingness of people to obey. It isManagement as Example:
therefore necessary for those people who are givenIt was Toyota who first understood and
the job to complete a task to obey all legal andimplemented this golden rule in business, not the
reasonable orders and perform it responsibly.Muslims. Their success is thus based on two principles:
Holy Quran instructs:Complete Elimination of Wastage; and
[4:59]2. Equal Level of Respect for All.
"Obey Allah and His  Messenger and those inContinuous and aggressive pursuit of wastage
position  of authority among you."elimination led Toyota to become one of the most
When this spirit of voluntary obedience is instilled inefficient manufacturing organizations in the world. The
the mind of an employee, the scope of the hierarchycompany is now able to produce the best quality of
as envisaged by the Ayat is strengthened [43:32].automotive products at the least possible cost while
Needless to say, without the spirit of voluntarymaintaining the highest pay-scale for its employees.
obedience among those who work, the creation ofQUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
hierarchy will not serve any purpose .A business cannot flourish in the long run if it doesn't
JOINT CONSULTATION &    TEAM WORKgive its customer what it promises to. The main
The modern world realized the importance of jointfocus of a businessman is to make profits and not
consultation (Shura) and team-work when thenecessarily to satisfy the customer. It would not be
Japanese based its management style on it andwrong to say that the only time the businessman
proved to the world of its effectiveness.realizes that customer satisfaction is important is
The Holy Quran advocates for this concept:when he understand that this is directly related with
[42:83]"...and those who do  their work  throughhis profitability margins.
mutual Consultation"The Holy Quran commands:
[3:159] "...pass over (their faults), and ask for (God's)[6:152] "And come not nigh to the orphan's property,
forgiveness for them; and consult them in affairs (ofexcept to improve it, until he attain the age of full
moment). Then, when you have taken a decision putstrength; give measure and weight with (full) justice;-
your trust in God, for God loves those who put theirno burden do We place on any soul, but that which it
trust (in Him)."can bear;- whenever ye speak, speak justly, even if
PRINCIPLE OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITIESa near relative is concerned; and fulfill the covenant
The principle of equal opportunities postulate that allof Allah. Thus doth He command you that ye may
members of an organization shall have equal and fairremember."
chances to grow, contribute, and be rewardedWhat it means to business?
accordingly.
The Holy Quran emphasis this golden rule: [49:13]For a businessman, there is no alternative but to
"O people We created you from a single male andsatisfy his customer, even if the market and
female couple and then divided you in nations andeconomic forces are making it difficult for him to do
tribes so that you may recognize one another. Verilyso. It is his obligation to God that he resists these
the most honorable among you in the sight of Allah isforces and struggle and strive (wage Jihad) to fulfill
he who is most righteous of you."the above-mentioned commandments, even if he has
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) expounded the verse onto compromise on some profit or put up some extra
the occasion of Hajat-ul-Widaa, in the followingeffort (up to his capacity). For him, profit is only a
words:"means" to keep his business alive and to satisfy his
"In the light of this Quranic verse no Arab has anycustomer i.e. the "end."
superiority over a non-Arab nor does any non-ArabFULFILLING CONTRACTS, COMMITMENTS, &
have any superiority over an Arab. Neither black isPROMISES
superior to white nor white is superior to black. OfWhereas promises are verbal commitment, contracts
course, if there is any criterion of superiority andare written. From the ‘Nikah Namah' to a
respectability in the sight of Allah, it is Taqwabusiness plan, including any financial agreement, are all
(righteousness)."different forms of written promises that we make. If
In Management, The words mean:we look at it strictly from the business point of-view,
These words suggest that despite the fact that wecommitments and promises are a daily routine affair.
are all equal, human beings can excel over oneTo run a business successfully, a businessman should
another in certain aspects of life. One such aspectnot make promises that he cannot keep nor break
could be in terms of righteousness.any that he has made.
In the realm of management, it would mean that theThe Holy Quran instructs:
criteria for entitlement to any benefit, reward,[17:34] "Allah says, ‘Fulfill your contracts.
position, or status shall be such that any one havingContracts will be asked about.'"
requisite qualifications and experience should have
equal opportunity to achieve it. This will obviously go[16:91] "And the Almighty says, ‘Be true to Allah's
a long way towards maintain the requisite degree ofcontract when you have agreed to it.'
harmony in the work environment conducive to the
smooth working of the management process.[5:1] "The Almighty says, ‘O you who believe!
MOTIVATION & COMMITMENTFulfill your contracts.'
Making people what they are supposed to do[61:2-3] "And the Almighty says, ‘O you who
requires a certain degree of commitment which canbelieve! Why do you say what you do not do? It is
only be achieved through motivation. It is andeeply abhorrent to Allah that you say what you do
established fact that the way a Manager behaves ornot do.'"
deals with the subordinates determines the level andCONCLUSION
vitality of their motivation and commitment to aSuccess and prosperity is the outcome of
great extent.commitment to certain golden principles of life, and
The Holy Quran too speaks about this goldennot out of luck and fate-principles that are readily
rule:[3:159]available to us in the Holy Quran. These principles are
"(telling the Prophet) If you had been stern andindependent and universal of any particular profession
fierce of heart they (the companions and followers)and primarily aims at building a "whole" man capable
would have disappeared from around you. So pardonof achieving his true potential in the purpose of his
them and ask forgiveness for them and consult themlife-either through some business setup of his own or
in the conduct of affairs"through as an employee. What remains desired is the
What it Mean to Management?practical implementation of these principles in our
This beautiful ayat emphasizes upon two aspects:socio-economic and political lives.
one, that compassionate and sympathetic behavior