She swore that no servant would enter her house, and she wants to expiate her oath

Question : Shaykh Muhammad, this sister who is asking with us mentions that she swore she would not let the maid enter her house, and now she says she is compelled to do so. It seems she has many children and so on. What is the ruling in this case, and what is required of her?

Answer : If she is compelled to have a servant, there is no blame on her for bringing in a servant, but it is necessary that her mahram (a relative one may not marry) be with her, to protect her, guard her, and defend her. So if she is compelled, it is necessary that a mahram be with the servant.
As for her oath, she must expiate it. She feeds ten poor people, giving each poor person a kilo of rice with meat to accompany it, or she clothes them, or she frees a slave. If she does not find any of these three, let her fast three consecutive days. This is the expiation of the oath that Allah the Exalted mentioned in His saying: . And in the reading of 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him), it is fasting three consecutive days.