What is the ruling on going on strike to attain some workers’ demands or to improve their situation?
Praise be to Allah.
Striking is a breach of the contract between the worker and his employer, and Allah calls on us in His Book to honour and uphold the contracts that one person may take upon himself towards another person. So the worker has to do all the work that he agreed to do in a manner that pleases Allah and in accordance with the aayah (interpretation of the meaning);
“O you who believe! Fulfill (your) obligations…” [Al-Ma’idah 5:1]
Strikes are often accompanied by trouble, discord and violence, which is unacceptable in Islam because of the Fiqhi principle that warding off evil takes priority over achieving benefits. There are a number of other means which can be resorted to in order to achieve one’s goals, and which may be more effective than striking. A wise man would not leave any legitimate avenue unexplored.
As for stopping work because one has not been paid, this is permissible, because in this case the employer is in breach of contract, so the worker has the right to stop work until he gets paid. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Give the hired worker his wages before his sweat dries.” (Narrated by Ibn Majah). And Allah knows best.
Masa’il wa Rasa’il, Muhammad al-Mahmood an-Najdi, p. 48.
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