Verse: "One of the two women said: O my father, hire him. Indeed the best one you can hire is the strong and trustworthy." (28:26)
Evidence: The Quran affirms the hire contract between Moses and Shu'ayb — hire for shepherding service in exchange for a dowry — establishing the permissibility of ijarah.
Definition of ijarah: A contract over a lawful, known benefit in exchange for a known compensation for a known period.
Conditions of a valid ijarah:
- The benefit must be lawful and specified — a contract for sinful work is invalid.
- The wage and period must be defined — per the hadith: "Give the worker his wage before his sweat dries." (Ibn Majah 2443)
- Ability to deliver the benefit — a contract for what the worker cannot perform is invalid.
Worker qualities from the verse:
"The strong and trustworthy" — the woman stipulated professional capability and honesty/reliability. This is a foundation for hiring in Islam.
Modern applications: Employment contracts, consulting agreements, and rental contracts all fall under this classical jurisprudential framework.
Question: What are the conditions of a valid ijarah in Islamic jurisprudence? What two qualities did the woman stipulate for the worker?
Answer: Conditions: lawful and specified benefit — defined wage and period — ability to deliver. Two qualities: strength (competence) and trustworthiness (honesty).