Is it permissible for a woman to serve her husband's male guests in the presence of her husband? And is it permissible for her to sit with them with her face uncovered if she is safe from fitnah (trial, discord or temptation)?
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The questioner : Is it permissible for a woman to serve her husband's male guests in the presence of her husband, and is it permissible for her to sit with them with her face uncovered if she is safe from fitnah (trial, discord or temptation)?
The Shaykh : That is not permissible; that is, it is not permissible for a woman to serve men directly, even in the presence of her husband or her mahram (a relative one may not marry), because this leads to fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) without a doubt. It is also not permissible for her to uncover her face, even if she does not serve them directly, such as if she brings food or coffee and hands it to her husband or her wali (the bride's guardian) and then leaves while her face is uncovered in that state. In that case, it is haram (forbidden) and not permissible, because a woman uncovering her face to non-mahram men is muharram (forbidden), as indicated by verses from the Qur'an and hadiths from the hadiths of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). As for what is narrated from the hadith of 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that Asma' bint Abi Bakr (may Allah be pleased with them both) entered upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) wearing thin clothes, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) turned away from her and saidSunan al-Bayhaqi 10:890 and pointed to his face and his hands, this hadith is weak in its chain and denounced in its text.
As for its weakness in the chain, it contains weak narrators, and because Khalid ibn Daryak, who narrated it from 'A'ishah, did not meet 'A'ishah, there are two defects in the chain: one is the disconnection of the chain between the one who narrated it from 'A'ishah and her, and the second is the weakness of some of its narrators.
As for the text, the reason for its denunciation is that Asma' bint Abi Bakr, who is an intelligent, believing woman, could not possibly enter upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) wearing thin clothes that reveal what is beneath them, to the extent that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would turn away from her. She is of higher status, greater in knowledge, stronger in religion, and more modest than to appear before the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) in this manner. It is known that if a text contradicts what is known to be contrary to it, it indicates that it is a denounced text. Therefore, this hadith is not relied upon regarding the permissibility of uncovering the face and hands. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : That is not permissible; that is, it is not permissible for a woman to serve men directly, even in the presence of her husband or her mahram (a relative one may not marry), because this leads to fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) without a doubt. It is also not permissible for her to uncover her face, even if she does not serve them directly, such as if she brings food or coffee and hands it to her husband or her wali (the bride's guardian) and then leaves while her face is uncovered in that state. In that case, it is haram (forbidden) and not permissible, because a woman uncovering her face to non-mahram men is muharram (forbidden), as indicated by verses from the Qur'an and hadiths from the hadiths of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). As for what is narrated from the hadith of 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that Asma' bint Abi Bakr (may Allah be pleased with them both) entered upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) wearing thin clothes, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) turned away from her and said
When a woman reaches the age of menstruation, it is not permissible for anyone to see of her except this and this.
إن المرأة إذا بلغت سن المحيض لم يصلح أن يرى منها إلا هذا وهذاAs for its weakness in the chain, it contains weak narrators, and because Khalid ibn Daryak, who narrated it from 'A'ishah, did not meet 'A'ishah, there are two defects in the chain: one is the disconnection of the chain between the one who narrated it from 'A'ishah and her, and the second is the weakness of some of its narrators.
As for the text, the reason for its denunciation is that Asma' bint Abi Bakr, who is an intelligent, believing woman, could not possibly enter upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) wearing thin clothes that reveal what is beneath them, to the extent that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would turn away from her. She is of higher status, greater in knowledge, stronger in religion, and more modest than to appear before the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) in this manner. It is known that if a text contradicts what is known to be contrary to it, it indicates that it is a denounced text. Therefore, this hadith is not relied upon regarding the permissibility of uncovering the face and hands. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.