Is it permissible to hire maids out of necessity, such as for an elderly woman who has no daughters, given that there is a young man in the house?

The questioner : Is it permissible, O Shaykh, to hire maids if there is a necessity: a woman who has no daughters, but there is a young man in the same house?

The Shaykh : By Allah, what we see is that it is not permissible to hire maids except with a mahram (a relative one may not marry). This is the first point.
The second point is that there must be a dire necessity.

The questioner : Her necessity is that she is old in age.

The Shaykh : She cannot?

The questioner : She cannot serve.

The Shaykh : And does she not have a son’s wife?

The questioner : She has sons’ wives.

The Shaykh : And why can’t the wife do what is necessary?

The questioner : The sons are scattered.

The Shaykh : Do you mean in the house?

The questioner : There is only a young man in the house.

The Shaykh : No, it is not permissible at all.

The questioner : Now, is it permissible for one of the sons to refrain from paying the amount? Is it permissible for one of the sons who is committed to pay?

The Shaykh : Yes, it is permissible for him.