Is it permissible for a Christian maid to perform wudu for an elderly Muslim woman?
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The questioner : The last question, O Shaykh, says:The questioner : In one of the homes of the Muslims, there is a Christian maid, and in this home there is a woman who is very old in age. Is it permissible for this woman, meaning the maid, to perform wudu for this elderly woman and to wash her body?
The Shaykh : Yes. First, we advise our brothers to avoid following this trend that people have become proud of and boast about, which is hiring maids. You find that these people do not need maids, but they say, "Our neighbors have a maid, so-and-so has a maid," and so they bring in servants. We have witnessed some harm from this, as some maids come without a mahram and stay in the house, and there may be young men in the house, and the maid may also be young, so harm, harm, and fitnah occur, and these must be feared and avoided. I do not see, based on what I hear from people and the questions that come to me, that a person should bring in a maid except with three conditions. The first condition is a pressing need. The second condition is that she must have a mahram with her. The third condition is that she must be Muslim, because the presence of many non-Muslims in the Arabian Peninsula is a danger to the Arabian Peninsula. If non-Muslims become numerous in the Arabian Peninsula, they will demand tomorrow to build churches and establish schools, and perhaps harms will arise from them, casting doubts upon our children, because they believe they are on the right religion. It was even said to me, and the responsibility lies with the speaker, but I do not know if it is true, that some people have a maid, and a maid has a female companion who advises her, and she says to the young boys, while she is trying to please them, "Teach them to bear witness that Isa is the son of Allah." She says to the boys, "Teach them to bear witness that Isa is the son of Allah," because she believes that Isa is the son of Allah and believes that this is advice. So they are in danger, meaning that the presence of disbelievers among us is a great danger. I fear that a person may be an enemy of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) on the Day of Resurrection, where He said:Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1606Sahih (Darussalam) And He said: Sunan Abi Dawud 3029Sahih (Al-Albani) And He said: Sahih Muslim 1767a So, fear Allah, O brothers, and do without maids as much as you can. If you are compelled to do so, the matter is broad, praise be to Allah, but strive to ensure that she is Muslim, that her mahram is with her, and that you are in need of her. Then, if the conditions are met and you find fitnah, eliminate this fitnah by removing it from you, either by sending her back to her country or by giving her to someone you trust, according to the need.
The questioner : This woman washes her and performs wudu for her.
The Shaykh : As for washing the body and performing wudu, it is obligatory for a person to cover his 'awrah, except for a husband with his wife and a wife with her husband, due to the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Al-Mu'minun 23:5-7] But in case of necessity, there is no harm in saving her with water. As for wudu, there is also no harm in pouring water on her, and the woman who performs wudu is the one who directly handles the rubbing and washing.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Be patient, everyone, that is enough, and this session and this meeting ends here. I ask Allah the Exalted to make it a blessed meeting and to benefit us and you with what He has taught us, for He is Generous and Bountiful.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Yes. First, we advise our brothers to avoid following this trend that people have become proud of and boast about, which is hiring maids. You find that these people do not need maids, but they say, "Our neighbors have a maid, so-and-so has a maid," and so they bring in servants. We have witnessed some harm from this, as some maids come without a mahram and stay in the house, and there may be young men in the house, and the maid may also be young, so harm, harm, and fitnah occur, and these must be feared and avoided. I do not see, based on what I hear from people and the questions that come to me, that a person should bring in a maid except with three conditions. The first condition is a pressing need. The second condition is that she must have a mahram with her. The third condition is that she must be Muslim, because the presence of many non-Muslims in the Arabian Peninsula is a danger to the Arabian Peninsula. If non-Muslims become numerous in the Arabian Peninsula, they will demand tomorrow to build churches and establish schools, and perhaps harms will arise from them, casting doubts upon our children, because they believe they are on the right religion. It was even said to me, and the responsibility lies with the speaker, but I do not know if it is true, that some people have a maid, and a maid has a female companion who advises her, and she says to the young boys, while she is trying to please them, "Teach them to bear witness that Isa is the son of Allah." She says to the boys, "Teach them to bear witness that Isa is the son of Allah," because she believes that Isa is the son of Allah and believes that this is advice. So they are in danger, meaning that the presence of disbelievers among us is a great danger. I fear that a person may be an enemy of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) on the Day of Resurrection, where He said:
expel the Jews and the Christians from the Arabian Peninsula
أخرجوا اليهود والنصارى من جزيرة العربExpel the polytheists from Arabia
أخرجوا المشركين من جزيرة العربI will expel the Jews and Christians from the Arabian Peninsula and will not leave any but Muslim.
لأخرجن اليهود والنصارى من جزيرة العرب حتى لا أدع إلا مسلماThe questioner : This woman washes her and performs wudu for her.
The Shaykh : As for washing the body and performing wudu, it is obligatory for a person to cover his 'awrah, except for a husband with his wife and a wife with her husband, due to the saying of Allah the Exalted:
(5) And they who guard their private parts (6) Except from their wives or those their right hands possess, for indeed, they will not be blamed - (7) But whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors -
والذين هم لفروجهم حافظون إلا على أزواجهم أو ما ملكت أيمانهم فإنهم غير ملومين فمن ابتغى وراء ذلك فأولئك هم العادونThe questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Be patient, everyone, that is enough, and this session and this meeting ends here. I ask Allah the Exalted to make it a blessed meeting and to benefit us and you with what He has taught us, for He is Generous and Bountiful.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : May Allah reward you with good.