Recruitment refers to the process of attracting, screening, selecting, and on-boarding a qualified person for a job. The stages of recruitment process include job analysis and developing some person specification, sourcing of candidates by various methods, matching candidates to job requirements and screening individuals using testing, assessment of candidates’ motivations and their fit with organisational requirements by various assessment techniques. In simple words, recruitment is the process to select the potential candidates for organisations to leverage competitive advantage.
On the other hand, selection is the action or fact of carefully choosing someone or something as being the best or most suitable. In business, it is the process of selecting a qualified person who can successfully do a job and deliver valuable contributions to the organisation. A selection system should depend on job analysis. This ensures that the selection criteria are job related and will provide meaningful organisational value.
The Qur’ān talks about two qualities which should be taken into consideration while selecting a person. Allah tells in the Qur’ān, “One of the women said, ‘O my father, hire him. Indeed, the best one you can hire is the strong and the trustworthy’.” (Qur’ān 28:26) This ayat is extracted from the story of Prophet Moosa and the father of the women, Prophet Shoaib. When Shoaib wanted to hire Moosa, the two qualities which he looked into was his strength (skill) and trustworthiness. If we do an analysis, we will realise that skill and trustworthiness are the only two qualities which are required in a person to perform his work effectively and efficiently.
From another instance in the Qur’ān we also get to know the qualities which are considered by Allah to select and appoint a person as a leader. Allah says in the Qur’ān, “Allah has appointed Tālūt as king over you.” (Qur’ān 2:247) He belonged to a small tribe of Bani Israel known as Ben Yamin and at that time he was 30 years old. The children of Israel had raised objections against the appointment of Tālūt as their king because he belonged to a small tribe which had no influence and he was also not a rich man.
This objection was answered by Prophet Sulaiman, which is recorded in the Qur’ān. Allah says, “Allah has chosen him over you and has gifted him abundantly with knowledge and bodily strength.” (Qur’ān 2:247) Allah considers knowledge and strength, not wealth and influence to be necessary qualifications for leadership. According to this criterion, Tālūt was the fittest person for the job. At that time the main problem was to fight a war and the need was for a man who would be able to command the soldiers and employ the best tactics. After the appointment of Tālūt, the successes that followed proved that the selection was the most appropriate. In this story as well, when you analyse, the two qualities which were considered to appoint Tālūt was skill (bodily strength) and character (knowledge).
Allah says in the Qur’ān, “(Yusuf) said, ‘Make me in-charge of the treasures (Finance Minister) of the land, verily I am guardian with full knowledge.’ (Qur’ān 12:55) What needs to be understood from this ayat is that, Yusuf proposed his name for the job not because of his current status, not because of his background, not because of his wealth, not because of his influence, etc., but because he possessed complete knowledge to execute the task. From this ayat it becomes clear that whenever a person is recruited the main criteria which should be taken into consideration is knowledge and not wealth, influence or family background which are given high importance today.
Allah says in the Qur’ān, “A powerful one from among the jinn said, “I will bring it to you before you rise from your place, and indeed, I am for this (task) strong (skilled) and trustworthy.” (Qur’ān 27:39) The ayat also clearly explains that the jinn wanted to do the task of bringing the throne of the Queen Sheba to the court because he possessed the skill and was trustworthy as well.
Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) surrounded himself with experienced warriors and constantly sought their advice. In fact, he frequently appointed the best warriors of his former enemies to positions of command once they converted to Islam. He sought good officers wherever he found them, appointing young men to carry out small-scale raids to give them combat experience, and sometimes recruited an officer from a town to command a Bedouin raid, to broaden his experience with cavalry. He always chose his military commanders on the basis of their proven experience, ability and trustworthiness and never for their asceticism or religious devotion. Thus, the Prophet strongly followed the principles which were laid down by the Qur’ān.
The army of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) witnessed a rapid growth from the Battle of Badr to the Battle of Tabuk. During this course of time, the Prophet recruited a lot of people. During the process of recruitment, he ensured that he recruited young people into the army, so that they would be helpful in the future. Thus, he recruited Az-Zubayr ibn Al-Awam, Abdur Rahman bin Awf, Saad bin Abi Waqas, Talhah ibn Obaidullah, Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah, Said bin Zayd , Ali bin Abi Talib, Abdullah bin Umair , Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah , Uqbah bin Amir , Jabir bin Abdullah, Zayd bin Harithah, Abdullah bin Masood, Khabbab bin al-Aratt, Az-Zubayr ibn Al-Awam, Talha ibn Obaidullah, Abdur Rahman bin Awf, Al-Arqam bin Abil Arqam, Muadh bin Jabal, Musab bin Umair, Abu Musa al Ashaari, Jaafar bin Abi Talib, Uthman bin Khuwaylid, Uthman bin Affan, Abu Huraira and Umar ibn Al-Khattab, all below the age of 32 years. All these people went on to become notable leaders at a later stage.
Selection of spouse is the most important decision which a person takes in his life, as the decision will not only decide the happiness of the person in the world but also decide his success in the hereafter. Thus, in order to make the right selection, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) has given certain instructions. He said, “A woman may be married for four reasons, for her property, for her lineage, for her beauty, and for her religion (and character), so marry the one who is best in the religion and character and prosper.” (Bukhari and Muslim) The Prophet recommended people to select those partners who are best in religion and character. This stresses that if we overlook the religious aspect and pursue only attractiveness, riches or lineage; we would lose out, indicating we did not aim high enough.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) said, “He who has been used as a leader over a group while there is among them a person with whom Allah is pleased more (than him), he has indeed betrayed Allah, His Messenger and the group of Muslims.” (Al-Hakim) It highlights the grave responsibility on the shoulders of the one who is in a position of power and authority. Leadership belongs to the person who is better in Islam.
Usama ibn Zayd was appointed commander when he was 20 years old, though this three thousand strong army included men such as Umar and other experienced companions. This choice gave rise to much criticism, but the Prophet reacted very promptly and put an end to all arguments when he proclaimed, “You criticise the choice of Usama to command the army, as you had formerly criticised that of his father Zayd. Usama is truly worthy of the command I entrust him with, as his father was before him.” (Ibn Hisham)
Few Muslims also reacted to the choice of Zayd ibn Harithah as they still considered him a slave, though he had been freed; now some people opposed the choice of his son, perhaps because of his father, but mostly because of his young age. By confirming his choice, the Prophet informed them that neither a man’s social origin nor his age should prevent him from exerting authority and power if he possessed the spiritual, intellectual and moral qualities required. From this we learn that the basic criterion to be considered for recruiting and selecting a person is spiritual, intellectual and moral qualities and not the family background or race of the individual.
Abu Musa said, “Two of my cousins and I entered the apartment of the Prophet.” One of them said, “Messenger of Allah, appoint us rulers of some land that the Almighty and Glorious God has entrusted to thy care. The other also said something similar. He said, “We do not appoint to this position one who asks for it nor anyone who desires of the same.” (Muslim) It is often seen that those who desire for a leadership position are driven by their own ignoble motives, such people never do justice to the cause that were chosen to lead. On the other hand, those who are given leadership without their asking for it discharge their duties with a genuine sense of responsibility and they do not corrupt their positions with their personal agenda. Thus, Islam believes in selecting people who do not desire for any kind of leadership position.
Selection is generally based on two levels, at the individual level and at the society or national level. At the individual level people select their spouses and at the society level they select employee or a leader. Both these selections are very important as it has direct impact on both our personal and social lives. Thus, on all these occasions Islam guides people on the criteria to be looked into, with recruiting and selecting. Whatever may be the nature of work, the criteria prescribed by Islam should be taken into consideration in order to have an effective outcome.