What is the obligation of a righteous young man who has a female servant in his house who uncovers her face?
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The questioner : May the Shaykh be honored, regarding the servants, we have a servant in our house, and I told the family, I and my parents, I told them, meaning, they should try to remove her, meaning, we should take her away from the house.
The Shaykh : Yes, send her back.
The questioner : Yes, they told me, they said, no, we cannot, and she is of a certain beauty.
The Shaykh : Yes
The questioner : So, did my family refuse? They told me, we cannot, or... does my responsibility end there, or can I ask her for something if I ask for something?
The Shaykh : First, may Allah reward you. We do not see that servants should come without a mahram (a relative one may not marry); a mahram is necessary. This is one point. And if she does not have a mahram, it is obligatory that they request her mahram or send her back. This is one point.
Second: If she does not observe hijab in the presence of men, it is obligatory that she be compelled to observe hijab, meaning, she must cover her face. This is necessary.
Third: If a person fears for himself from her because she is young or beautiful or the like, it is obligatory that she be removed from the house. Because if we assume that the father is safe from her harm, the sons may not be safe from her harm. And if a person fears for himself with a direct, real fear, it is obligatory for him, if he has the ability and his family refuses to send her back, to separate himself in a house alone. Because the matter is not light, and Satan flows through the son of Adam like blood. So perhaps he will whisper to him one day or one night to commit a sin with her. So first, tell them, "This is a danger to me and to my character and my religion." If you refuse except that she remains, then it is necessary that her mahram come with her. And if you refuse that, then allow me to separate myself in a residence alone, if you have the ability. Yes, that is right.
The questioner : I cannot...
The Shaykh : Yes, that is right. You, my brother, you say it. If she comes and she is uncovered to you, say it: "Cover your face."
The questioner : Can I speak to her?
The Shaykh : Yes, that is right. You can say to her, "Cover your face," and strive to ensure that there is no soft speech between you and her or the like. And hold in your heart that you dislike her presence in the house.
The questioner : Meaning, some things, meaning, speak to them. The family said...
The Shaykh : ...Allah will provide for them with someone else.
The questioner : Meaning, this does not become cutting off sustenance or something.
The Shaykh : No, no, absolutely not. Cutting off sustenance is avoiding her harm.
The Shaykh : Yes, send her back.
The questioner : Yes, they told me, they said, no, we cannot, and she is of a certain beauty.
The Shaykh : Yes
The questioner : So, did my family refuse? They told me, we cannot, or... does my responsibility end there, or can I ask her for something if I ask for something?
The Shaykh : First, may Allah reward you. We do not see that servants should come without a mahram (a relative one may not marry); a mahram is necessary. This is one point. And if she does not have a mahram, it is obligatory that they request her mahram or send her back. This is one point.
Second: If she does not observe hijab in the presence of men, it is obligatory that she be compelled to observe hijab, meaning, she must cover her face. This is necessary.
Third: If a person fears for himself from her because she is young or beautiful or the like, it is obligatory that she be removed from the house. Because if we assume that the father is safe from her harm, the sons may not be safe from her harm. And if a person fears for himself with a direct, real fear, it is obligatory for him, if he has the ability and his family refuses to send her back, to separate himself in a house alone. Because the matter is not light, and Satan flows through the son of Adam like blood. So perhaps he will whisper to him one day or one night to commit a sin with her. So first, tell them, "This is a danger to me and to my character and my religion." If you refuse except that she remains, then it is necessary that her mahram come with her. And if you refuse that, then allow me to separate myself in a residence alone, if you have the ability. Yes, that is right.
The questioner : I cannot...
The Shaykh : Yes, that is right. You, my brother, you say it. If she comes and she is uncovered to you, say it: "Cover your face."
The questioner : Can I speak to her?
The Shaykh : Yes, that is right. You can say to her, "Cover your face," and strive to ensure that there is no soft speech between you and her or the like. And hold in your heart that you dislike her presence in the house.
The questioner : Meaning, some things, meaning, speak to them. The family said...
The Shaykh : ...Allah will provide for them with someone else.
The questioner : Meaning, this does not become cutting off sustenance or something.
The Shaykh : No, no, absolutely not. Cutting off sustenance is avoiding her harm.