Discover the meaning of the term Al-ʿaml (عامل) in Islamic vocabulary.
Contents :
Updated on 11 April 2026 at 1:05 AM
📖 3 min readWhat makes necessary that the end of the word bear a specific modality of declension (i'rab).
In language: like arkan (support). Among grammarians: that by which the meaning requiring declension is realized; it is of two kinds: formal (lafzi) and semantic (ma'nawi).
In language: on the pattern of fa'il, from the verb 'amala. One says: 'I worked ('amiltu) for the alms': I strove to gather it. Al-'amil is used meaning the governor (wali); its plurals are 'ummal and 'amilun, and it takes a second object with hamza: one says 'a'maltu-hu wa sta'maltu-hu', that is, I made him work, or asked him to work; and 'ammaltu-hu over the land (with doubling): I invested him with his office. Al- Amala (with damma of the 'ayn): the worker's wage; with kasra: in language. Technically: he whom the Imam appoints to collect the alms and tithes, so in al-Kafi. In Sharh Fath al-Qarib: he whom the Imam employs to take the alms and hand them to those entitled. In al-Nazm al-Musta'dhab: the one who holds the offices. (Al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya, 1/188; Sharh Fath al-Qarib, p. 41; al-Nazm al-Musta'dhab, 1/162; al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya, 29/227).
So-and-so: to deal with him in a sale or the like. Al- Amil: one who works in a trade or craft (plural 'ummal and 'umla). He who manages a man's affairs in his wealth and property and his work. He who collects zakat from those owing it. Zakat, among Hanbalis: he whom the Imam sends to take zakat from those owing it, to gather it, keep it and transport it; and he whom the Imam appoints to market it and oversee it; likewise the scribe, the reckoner, the measurer, the weigher, the apportioner, and all needed therein. Among Zahiris: the agent sent out by the Imam whose obedience is obligatory; he is the attester and the active one. Al- Amala: work. Al- Amala: the worker's wage. Al- Amala: labor. Al- Amal: the profession (plural a'mal); the act.
That by which the meaning requiring declension is realized.
What makes necessary that the end of the word bear a specific modality of declension.
﴿أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ جَزَآؤُهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ وَجَنَّـٰتٌۭ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَا ۚ وَنِعْمَ أَجْرُ ٱلْعَـٰمِلِينَ﴾
« Those - their reward is forgiveness from their Lord and gardens beneath which rivers flow [in Paradise], wherein they will abide eternally; and excellent is the reward of the [righteous] workers. »
Surah آل عمران : 136
﴿فَٱسْتَجَابَ لَهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ أَنِّى لَآ أُضِيعُ عَمَلَ عَـٰمِلٍۢ مِّنكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنثَىٰ ۖ بَعْضُكُم مِّنۢ بَعْضٍۢ ۖ فَٱلَّذِينَ هَاجَرُوا۟ وَأُخْرِجُوا۟ مِن دِيَـٰرِهِمْ وَأُوذُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِى وَقَـٰتَلُوا۟ وَقُتِلُوا۟ لَأُكَفِّرَنَّ عَنْهُمْ سَيِّـَٔاتِهِمْ وَلَأُدْخِلَنَّهُمْ جَنَّـٰتٍۢ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ ثَوَابًۭا مِّنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عِندَهُۥ حُسْنُ ٱلثَّوَابِ﴾
« And their Lord responded to them, "Never will I allow to be lost the work of [any] worker among you, whether male or female; you are of one another. So those who emigrated or were evicted from their homes or were harmed in My cause or fought or were killed - I will surely remove from them their misdeeds, and I will surely admit them to gardens beneath which rivers flow as reward from Allah, and Allah has with Him the best reward." »
Surah آل عمران : 195
﴿قُلْ يَـٰقَوْمِ ٱعْمَلُوا۟ عَلَىٰ مَكَانَتِكُمْ إِنِّى عَامِلٌۭ ۖ فَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ مَن تَكُونُ لَهُۥ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلدَّارِ ۗ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُفْلِحُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ﴾
« Say, "O my people, work according to your position; [for] indeed, I am working. And you are going to know who will have succession in the home. Indeed, the wrongdoers will not succeed. »
Surah الأنعام : 135
﴿۞ إِنَّمَا ٱلصَّدَقَـٰتُ لِلْفُقَرَآءِ وَٱلْمَسَـٰكِينِ وَٱلْعَـٰمِلِينَ عَلَيْهَا وَٱلْمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَفِى ٱلرِّقَابِ وَٱلْغَـٰرِمِينَ وَفِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱبْنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ ۖ فَرِيضَةًۭ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌۭ﴾
« Zakah expenditures are only for the poor and for the needy and for those employed to collect [zakah] and for bringing hearts together [for Islam] and for freeing captives [or slaves] and for those in debt and for the cause of Allah and for the [stranded] traveler - an obligation [imposed] by Allah. And Allah is Knowing and Wise. »
Surah التوبة : 60
﴿وَيَـٰقَوْمِ ٱعْمَلُوا۟ عَلَىٰ مَكَانَتِكُمْ إِنِّى عَـٰمِلٌۭ ۖ سَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ مَن يَأْتِيهِ عَذَابٌۭ يُخْزِيهِ وَمَنْ هُوَ كَـٰذِبٌۭ ۖ وَٱرْتَقِبُوٓا۟ إِنِّى مَعَكُمْ رَقِيبٌۭ﴾
« And O my people, work according to your position; indeed, I am working. You are going to know to whom will come a punishment that will disgrace him and who is a liar. So watch; indeed, I am with you a watcher, [awaiting the outcome]." »
Surah هود : 93
﴿وَقُل لِّلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ ٱعْمَلُوا۟ عَلَىٰ مَكَانَتِكُمْ إِنَّا عَـٰمِلُونَ﴾
« And say to those who do not believe, "Work according to your position; indeed, we are working. »
Surah هود : 121
This term appears in 12 verses of the Quran.