Protecting Children from Labour: Muslim Scholar’s Viewpoint and Legal Provisions in Selected Muslim Countries

Abstract

Protection of children from labour in Islam is basically based on the general purposes of Islamic law (maqasid al-Shari’ah) as well the spirit of the Shari’ah i.e., securing benefit to the mankind and removing harm from occurring on the people. This paper seeks to examine among others the contemporary Muslim scholar’s viewpoint on child labour under Islamic law as well as legal provisions on protecting children from labour under the laws in selected Muslim countries. This is to provide a sample of child protection from labour under Islamic perspective and Muslim jurisdiction. The research adopts a qualitative methodology where most of the data are collected in the library. The research found that the Muslim jurists differ on whether a child may be a subject of labour while the Muslim Countries have determined certain age for a child to be employed in non-hazardous work. It is believed that this paper will be beneficial for reference to all academicians, policymakers and the public as a whole. Keywords: Child Labour; Child Protection; Islamic Law; Muslim Countries