The 48 Laws of Power in the light of Islam(Law 7/48)

Get Others To Do The Work While You Take The Credit

Even just reading this title gives a negative feeling.

How on earth is it acceptable —

to use others’ work —

and not give them credit?

But why do we care, right?

What we need is power.

That is what Greene meant.

What Greene Actually Said

Greene says the world of power has the dynamics of a jungle.

Be the one who makes others work for you.

But never let them take the credit.

He gives examples of people who hired the best workers —

but when a high profile client appeared —

they would shoo away those workers.

And show that they alone did everything.

All the quality.

All the work.

All by themselves.

Greene says this gives you a god-like aura.

He even gave the example of Isaac Newton and Shakespeare —

that both got their name and aura partly because of building on the work of great people before them.

And at the end he writes a quote —

“Fools say that they learn from their experience. I prefer to profit by others’ experiences.”

Two Sides To This Law

If we look carefully —

this law actually has two sides.

Side one —

hiring people to work for you.

There is nothing wrong with this.

When a person’s business grows —

he cannot handle everything alone.

He needs people below him.

And obviously his name remains on top.

Even the greatest Sahabah were businesspeople.

Abdur Rahman ibn Awf (R.A) was one of the wealthiest companions of the Prophet ﷺ.

He had workers.

He had trade networks.

His name was on top.

But he never deceived anyone about it.

He never pretended his workers did not exist.

That transparency —

is what made him trusted and respected.

The deceiving part —

pretending all the work is yours alone —

that is what Islam does not accept.

Side two —

building your name entirely on someone else’s work.

Copying their work.

Writing your name on it.

This is by far the most unacceptable part of this law.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“The one who does not thank people has not thanked Allah.”

Abu Dawud

And he ﷺ also said:

“He who took up arms against us is not of us and he who acted dishonestly towards us is not of us.”

Sahih Muslim 101

Taking someone’s work and presenting it as yours —

is cheating.

Plain and simple.

The Battle of Khandaq

This is the perfect example for this law.

The Battle of Khandaq —

also known as the Battle of the Trench —

was one of the most critical moments in early Islamic history.

The idea of digging a trench to protect Madinah —

came from Salman al-Farsi (R.A).

A Persian companion.

Not an Arab.

Not someone from the inner circle of the Quraysh.

And what did the Prophet ﷺ do?

He accepted the idea publicly.

He credited Salman (R.A) openly.

He worked in the trench himself —

side by side with his companions.

No one was shooed away.

No one’s contribution was hidden.

The greatest man who ever lived —

did not need to steal credit to appear powerful.

His transparency made him more powerful.

Not less.

How To Apply This In Your Life

First —

To hire people is not bad.

But work with them even when a high profile client appears.

This shows your transparency.

And not every client will be impressed when you shoo away your workers.

Many will see you as a deceiver.

And a deceiver’s reputation —

always catches up with them.

Second —

If you want to build your name on others’ work from history —

don’t just copy it.

Add something to that work that no one can argue belongs to you.

Your analysis.

Your perspective.

Your original contribution.

That is what makes it yours.

Third —

Respect and appreciate others’ work.

Always.

When you give credit —

people trust you more.

Come closer to you.

Work harder for you.

And Allah is pleased with you.

That is more powerful than any god-like aura Greene ever described.

The Bottom Line

Greene says get others to do the work.

Take all the credit.

Never let anyone outshine you in front of the powerful.

Islam says —

hire people, lead people, build upon others’ knowledge —

but be transparent.

Give credit where it is due.

Work alongside your people —

not above them.

Because the Prophet ﷺ himself dug trenches with his companions.

And no one in history had more power —

more genuine authority —

more love from his people —

than him.

Checkout new laws here:

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48 laws. One truth.

See you in the next one.