What is the ruling on a woman mixing with her husband's guests while observing proper conduct?

The questioner : Is it permissible for a woman to go beyond serving her husband's guests to sharing their food, in the presence of the husband, while observing proper conduct?

The Shaykh : He means, as if he is saying, the mixing.

The questioner : Yes.

The Shaykh : Yes, we say in answer to this: No. And from another angle, we say: It is not possible to observe proper conduct between the two sexes, no matter how high their status or how noble their character. As for the definitive answer, we say: No, because this kind of mixing was not known in the era of the righteous predecessors. Of course, we mentioned in "Etiquette of the Wedding" the story of the bride when she stood up to serve the guests, but that is a narrower scope than what came in the question. It is this type of service, not everything that was indicated in the question.The questioner : In his question.

The questioner : All right, regarding the hadith you just referred to, mentioned in "Etiquette of the Wedding," how is this hadith to be understood, in light of the general answer you mentioned, and what is the possibility of narrowing this service?

The Shaykh : I said at the end of my statement that she stands up to bring the food, bring the water, and so on, but she does not sit with the men and eat and drink with them, as came in the question. So the meaning indicated by the story is much narrower than the meaning that came in the question.

The questioner : All right, cannot it be said regarding the story that this was due to the absence of someone to help them or something similar, so it was out of necessity or something of that sort?

The Shaykh : Anything can be said, and take this as a rule to rest upon: anything can be said in terms of possibilities. But do not forget that the opposite can also be said. So we do not strain ourselves, nor do we explore possibilities regarding clear texts, unless there is a clear text that contradicts a specific incident. Do you understand?

The questioner : Yes, it is clear. May Allah reward you with good.

The Shaykh : And you as well.

Another questioner : My teacher, does she serve the food but not sit?

The Shaykh : Yes, she does not mix with them. The issue is that we reject the mixing that came in the question.

Another questioner : I mean, if she sat for a short time to arrange the glasses or something like that?

The Shaykh : No, that may be before their arrival. As I said just now, she enters and exits to serve the guests, but to eat with them or drink with them, no.