What is your opinion on the fatwa of Shaykh Ibn Baz forbidding the hiring of non-Muslim servants into homes?
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The questioner : In Ibn Baz’s fatwa, even regarding servants from the People of the Book, it is not permissible to burden our homes with them. He said it is forbidden to house them in our homes. What is your opinion, Shaykh, on this matter?
The Shaykh : And upon you be peace, and Allah's mercy and blessings.
Another questioner: Peace be upon you.
The Shaykh : Welcome, how are you?
The questioner : May Allah keep you safe.
The Shaykh : It appears to me, and Allah knows best, 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 general, as I have heard that it is also not permissible for men to employ them, we do not see what justifies this prohibition. Islamic history is full of Jews and Christians living among Muslims, especially those who were enslaved slaves. Even the authentic hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) states: 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. 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, and they came to know Islam up close. Islam was revealed to them in its bright, clear form, contrary to the many lies they were taught in their lands about the religion of Islam or the Prophet of Islam. Thus, their knowledge of the truth of Islam became the cause of their guidance, the guidance whose end for them is entering Paradise. Therefore, we do not find a barrier preventing a Muslim from employing a disbeliever, provided it is within the limits of the Shari'ah. The strongest argument for this is the continued practice of Muslims in doing so. It is also established that the opposite occurred, namely that Muslims in their early era would hire themselves out to non-Muslims. For example, it is established in the Musnad of 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 is permissible, even though it involves 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 my answer to that question.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : And upon you be peace, and Allah's mercy and blessings.
Another questioner: Peace be upon you.
The Shaykh : Welcome, how are you?
The questioner : May Allah keep you safe.
The Shaykh : It appears to me, and Allah knows best, 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 general, as I have heard that it is also not permissible for men to employ them, we do not see what justifies this prohibition. Islamic history is full of Jews and Christians living among Muslims, especially those who were enslaved slaves. Even the authentic hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) states:
Indeed, your Lord is amazed at a group of people who are dragged to Paradise in chains.
إن ربك ليعجب من أقوام يجرون إلى الجنة في السلاسلThe questioner : May Allah reward you with good.