Controlling is the measurement and correction of the performance of activities of subordinates in order to make sure that the enterprise objectives and plans desired to obtain them are being accomplished. It involves the establishment of standard performance, measurement of actual performance, comparison of actual performance with the standards and finding out deviation, if any, and taking corrective actions. It implies measurement of accomplishment against the standards and correction of deviation, if any, to ensure achievement of organisational goals.
The purpose of controlling is to ensure that everything occurs in conformities with the standards. An efficient system of control helps to predict deviations before they actually occur. Controlling is the process of checking whether or not proper progress is being made towards the objectives and goals and acting, if necessary, to correct any deviation.
Islam addresses the concept of controlling in four perspectives, such as, controlling the universe, controlling the slaves or employees, controlling the family and controlling one’s self. The first aspect of controlling is the universe. Many think that people have control over all affairs. But Islam teaches us that Allah is the Sovereign Who is in control of all affairs, the controller of all things, the one Who is able to do all things.
As Allah says in the Qur’ān, “It is Allah who has created seven heavens and of the earth, the like of them. (His) command descends among them so you may know that Allah is over all things competent and that Allah has encompassed all things in knowledge.” (Qur’ān 65:12) He has control over each and every thing and nothing in the universe can happen without his permission.
It is Allah Who heaps up heavy clouds, heats and brightens the Earth, varies the direction of the winds, holds birds suspended up in the sky, splits the seed, makes a man’s heart beat, ordains photosynthesis in plants, and keeps planets in their separate orbits.
People generally surmise that such phenomena occur according to ‘the laws of physics’, ‘gravity’, ‘aerodynamics’ or other physical factors; however, there is one significant truth these people ignore; all such physical laws were created by Allah, the only possessor of power in the universe. Allah says in the Qur’ān, “Do you not see that Allah, who created the heavens and earth and did not fail in their creation, is able to give life to the dead? Yes. Indeed, He is over all things competent.” (Qur’ān 46:33)
Even the Prophets did not have control over many things, except by the permission of Allah. Having a strong faith that Allah has control over all affairs will also help the individual to control his emotions when things don’t go his way.
The second aspect of controlling is the employees. Today the way many employees are being treated is very bad and the situation is just going from bad to worse. Today employees are exploited by giving them less wages, by making them work for long hours, not giving them good working conditions and what not.
But the teaching of Islam is just the opposite from what is generally practised today. Justice and fair dealings are basic values of Islam and they must be always emphasised. No peace and harmony in the society can exist without justice. Justice should be done to all people. Allah says in the Qur’ān, “O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm in justice, witnesses for God, even if it be against yourselves or parents and relatives. Whether one is rich or poor, God is more worthy of both. So follow not (personal) inclination, lest you not be just. And if you distort [your testimony] or refuse [to give it], then indeed God is ever, with what you do, Acquainted.” (Qur’ān 4:135)
All people are equal. It does not make any difference to what race they belong, what colour they have, what country they come from, what their gender is or what their occupation is. Young or old, rich or poor, white or black, citizens or foreigners are all equal; and they all should be respected, honoured, and treated equally.
Allah says in the Qur’ān, “O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of God is the most righteous of you. Indeed, God is Knowing and Acquainted.” (Qur’ān 49:13)
Islam teaches us to fulfil the contract, as Allah says in the Qur’ān, “O you who have believed, fulfil (all) contracts….” (Qur’ān 5:1) Islam teaches us to display good treatment with the employees, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) has said, “Good treatment of those under you brings fortune, whilst bad treatment brings misfortune.” (Abu Dawood)
Workers are our brothers and sisters. They are our helpers. We need them; we depend on them for many things that we cannot do for ourselves. Employees should not be given work beyond their capacity. They should have a humane and safe environment for work. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) said, “Your brothers are your responsibility. Allah has made them under your hands. So whosoever has a brother under his hand, let him give him food as he eats and dress as he dresses. Do not give them work that will overburden them and if you give them such task then provide them assistance.” (Bukhari)
When one employees people, they also have control over his wages, thus, Islam guides the people not only to give right wages but also give it on time. The minimum wage should be high enough to meet the basic essentials and requirements of the worker. Anas, who served the Prophet for a long time, states that, “The Prophet never paid a low wage to any person.” (Bukhari) One of the three persons that the Prophet (pbuh) will argue against on the Day of Judgement is a “man who engaged a labourer and enjoyed full benefit from him, yet did not pay him (his due) wages.” (Bukhari) In order to be prompt in making the payment the Prophet has said, “Pay the labourer his wage before his sweat dries.” (Ibn Majah)
Thus, Islam does not teach to misuse the authority of control but it teaches to have control over the employees based on the principles of justice, fairness, fulfilment of contracts, good treatment and kindness.
The third aspect of controlling is one’s family. Men are given the control of the family, but they do not strive to fulfil their responsibility the way they have to do it. They neither have check on the actions of their wives and children, which ultimately leads them to the wrong path.
Islam has given the control of the family in the hands of man. Thus it is his responsibility to ensure that he does the right things and abstain from wrong things. As Allah says in the Qur’ān, “O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones….” (Qur’ān 66:6)
Islam also gives control to man as Allah has entrusted the responsibility of maintenance on the man, as Allah says in the Qur’ān, “Men are the maintainers of women, because Allah has made some of them to excel others….” (Qur’ān 4:34) Therefore, man should realise how responsible they are towards their families. The Prophet said in that regard, “A man is the guardian of his family and is responsible for them, and a woman is the guardian of her husband’s house and is responsible for it….” (Bukhari and Muslim).
As man is given control over his children as well, the Prophet said: “Order your children to perform prayer when they are seven years old, and beat them if they have not adhered to observing it when they become ten.” (Abu Dawood and Tirmidhi)
The man who has given the control over his family will also be tested on the same, as Allah says in the Qur’ān, “O you who have believed, indeed, among your wives and your children are enemies to you, so beware of them.” (Qur’ān 64:14) Allah also says in the Qur’ān, “Your wealth and your children are but a trial, and Allah has with Him a great reward.” (Qur’ān 64:15)
As the wife and children are under the control of man, he should also pray for them as Allah teaches us in the Qur’ān, “…Our Lord, grant us from among our wives and offspring conform to our eyes and make us leaders (i.e., example) for the righteous.” (Qur’ān 25:74) This shows that when Allah entrusts control on someone, he should control them as per the guidelines given by Allah and His Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be to him).
The fourth aspect of controlling is one’s own self, which is also called self-control. Man is made unique; he is given control of himself as he has been given the freedom to do good or bad. But man generally fails to have control over himself and falls prey to his desires. Islam gives high importance to controlling oneself. One of the reasons we pray five times a day is to gain discipline. We fast in the month of Ramadan in order to learn self-restraint, as Allah says in the Qur’ān, “O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may (learn) self-restraint.” (Qur’ān 2:183) We participate in Hajj, partly, to practise strength. We lower our gaze to resist temptation, as Allah says in the Qur’ān, “Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and guard their private parts….” (Qur’ān 24:30)
Even the pursuit of wealth is not by any means necessary, we are stringent about examining the how and why of whatever we earn and spend. In this regard, Allah says in the Qur’ān, “And give the relatives his right, and (also) the poor and the traveller, and do not spend wastefully.” (Qur’ān 17:26)
We have to regulate what we consume. We have to regulate our speech. We have to constantly exert control over our thoughts and feelings. We have to control our anger, our jealousy; any feelings of pride or arrogance. We constantly have to check our actions against our intentions.
The ultimate control of the entire universe remains with Allah, as He is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. According to the teachings of Islam, one needs to make right use and do justice to the controlling authority which is given to him as he will be questioned on the same on the Day of Judgement. Thus, this belief will motivate the person to use his controlling authority in the right perspective.