What is your opinion on the fatwa of "Ibn Baz" regarding the prohibition of hiring non-Muslim servants for homes?
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The questioner : In the fatwa of "Ibn Baz," even regarding servants from the People of the Book, he said: It is not permissible for us to employ them in our homes. He meant to say: It is forbidden, housing them in the homes. What is your opinion, Shaykh, on this matter?
The Shaykh : And upon you be peace, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
Another questioner: Peace be upon you.
The Shaykh : Welcome, how are you?
The questioner : May Allah keep you safe.
Another questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : What appears to me—and Allah knows best—is that what the Shaykh noted in that prohibition was due to his knowledge that Muslim women, the housewives who hire these foreigners, do not fulfill the obligation of covering themselves. However, if the prohibition is a general one, as I have heard that it is also not permissible for men to employ or use them, we do not see anything that justifies this prohibition. Islamic history is full of the fact that Jews and Christians lived among Muslims, especially those who were enslaved slaves. And in the authentic hadith, it is reported that he (peace and blessings be upon him) said:.
The hadith refers to the captives from among the disbelievers who were led to the lands of Islam in chains and shackles, then distributed, according to the opinion of the Muslim ruler, to the warriors who had captured them. Thus, these captives naturally became servants in the homes of Muslims. This employment was a great blessing for these captives, as they were dragged to these Islamic lands against their wills. They came to know Islam directly and up close, and Islam was revealed to them in its bright, pure form, contrary to the many lies they were taught in their lands, whether about the religion of Islam or the Prophet of Islam. Their knowledge of the truth of Islam was the cause of their guidance, the guidance whose end for them is entering Paradise. Therefore, we find no obstacle to a Muslim employing a disbeliever if it is within the limits of the Shari'ah. The greatest argument for this is the continued practice of Muslims in doing so. It is also established that the opposite occurred: that Muslims in their early era hired themselves out to non-Muslims. For example, it is established in "Musnad al-Imam Ahmad" and elsewhere: "That 'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) hired himself out to a Jew for one date per bucket." If this was permissible, even though it involved a kind of dominance of the disbeliever over the Muslim, then the opposite, which is the dominance of the Muslim over the disbeliever, is all the more permissible.
This is what I have in answer to your question.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : And upon you be peace, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
Another questioner: Peace be upon you.
The Shaykh : Welcome, how are you?
The questioner : May Allah keep you safe.
Another questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : What appears to me—and Allah knows best—is that what the Shaykh noted in that prohibition was due to his knowledge that Muslim women, the housewives who hire these foreigners, do not fulfill the obligation of covering themselves. However, if the prohibition is a general one, as I have heard that it is also not permissible for men to employ or use them, we do not see anything that justifies this prohibition. Islamic history is full of the fact that Jews and Christians lived among Muslims, especially those who were enslaved slaves. And in the authentic hadith, it is reported that he (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Indeed, your Lord is amazed at a group of people who are dragged into Paradise in chains.
إن ربَّك لَيعجَبُ من أقوامٍ يُجَرُّون إلى الجنة في السلاسلThe hadith refers to the captives from among the disbelievers who were led to the lands of Islam in chains and shackles, then distributed, according to the opinion of the Muslim ruler, to the warriors who had captured them. Thus, these captives naturally became servants in the homes of Muslims. This employment was a great blessing for these captives, as they were dragged to these Islamic lands against their wills. They came to know Islam directly and up close, and Islam was revealed to them in its bright, pure form, contrary to the many lies they were taught in their lands, whether about the religion of Islam or the Prophet of Islam. Their knowledge of the truth of Islam was the cause of their guidance, the guidance whose end for them is entering Paradise. Therefore, we find no obstacle to a Muslim employing a disbeliever if it is within the limits of the Shari'ah. The greatest argument for this is the continued practice of Muslims in doing so. It is also established that the opposite occurred: that Muslims in their early era hired themselves out to non-Muslims. For example, it is established in "Musnad al-Imam Ahmad" and elsewhere: "That 'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) hired himself out to a Jew for one date per bucket." If this was permissible, even though it involved a kind of dominance of the disbeliever over the Muslim, then the opposite, which is the dominance of the Muslim over the disbeliever, is all the more permissible.
This is what I have in answer to your question.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
Source
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