What is the ruling on bringing in non-Muslim maids?
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The questioner : Your Eminence, what is the ruling on bringing in non-Muslim maids into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia?
The Shaykh : We have answered this before.
The questioner : Non-Muslim women.
The Shaykh : We said: Do not bring in anyone but a Muslim woman; do not bring in anyone but a Muslim maid. Also, she must be accompanied by her mahram (a relative one may not marry), except in cases of dire necessity. If you cannot find a Muslim woman and you are compelled to have a maid, then bring her with her mahram. For a non-Muslim maid, in reality, first, how can a person keep in his home someone who is an enemy to him and to Allah? How can he be satisfied with that?
Second, it has reached me that some maids, when advised, would say to the young boys in the morning, "Say, 'Christ is the son of Allah.' Say, 'O Christ, O our Lord, Christ,' and the like." She did this based on her own understanding because it is her religion. It is feared that women like these may mislead the family.
Furthermore, if she is in your home and the mu'adhdhin (the one who calls to prayer) calls the adhan (the call to prayer) and the people stand up to pray, but she does not pray, be certain that the importance of prayer will diminish in the hearts of the young ones, and they will say, "Prayer is for whoever wants to pray, and whoever does not want to, does not." There are many dangers in bringing in non-Muslim maids. Yes.
The Shaykh : We have answered this before.
The questioner : Non-Muslim women.
The Shaykh : We said: Do not bring in anyone but a Muslim woman; do not bring in anyone but a Muslim maid. Also, she must be accompanied by her mahram (a relative one may not marry), except in cases of dire necessity. If you cannot find a Muslim woman and you are compelled to have a maid, then bring her with her mahram. For a non-Muslim maid, in reality, first, how can a person keep in his home someone who is an enemy to him and to Allah? How can he be satisfied with that?
Second, it has reached me that some maids, when advised, would say to the young boys in the morning, "Say, 'Christ is the son of Allah.' Say, 'O Christ, O our Lord, Christ,' and the like." She did this based on her own understanding because it is her religion. It is feared that women like these may mislead the family.
Furthermore, if she is in your home and the mu'adhdhin (the one who calls to prayer) calls the adhan (the call to prayer) and the people stand up to pray, but she does not pray, be certain that the importance of prayer will diminish in the hearts of the young ones, and they will say, "Prayer is for whoever wants to pray, and whoever does not want to, does not." There are many dangers in bringing in non-Muslim maids. Yes.