Labour Day, observed on May 1, commemorates the historic struggle of workers for fair hours, wages, and dignity. Its roots lie in the 1886 Haymarket Affair in Chicago, where workers rallied for an 8-hour workday. When a peaceful protest turned violent, several labour leaders were executed. In 1889, the Second International Labour Day declared May 1 as International Workers’ Day to honour their sacrifice. Today, over 80 countries observe it as a public holiday.

Labour Day is not just a holiday. It is a reminder that every brick in a city, every field harvested, every machine run, rests on human hands. It affirms three truths:

First: Dignity: No work is menial if done honestly.

Second: Rights: Fair wages, safe conditions, and rest are not favours — they are rights.

Third: Solidarity: The progress of a nation is tied to the welfare of its workers. The poverty-stricken society of Europe and the exploitation of poor people can be read in the novel by Charles Dickens titled “Great Expectations”.

The Islamic perspective on labour is quite clear. Fourteen centuries before modern labour movements, Islam enshrined the worker’s honour. The Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) said: “Pay the labourer his wages before his sweat dries.” (Ibn Majah).

He kissed the calloused hand of a........

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