What is the ruling on hiring female domestic workers without a mahram (a relative one may not marry) due to the difficulty of arranging this and the abundance of work in the homes?
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The Shaykh : Yes?
The questioner : Is it permissible to hire an elderly female servant from her country without a mahram (a relative one may not marry) because it is difficult to bring a mahram for her, especially since homes have expanded and work has increased due to her going out for study? Is this among the needs that assume the status of dire necessity?
The Shaykh : First: May Allah reward you. It is necessary that we do without servants as much as possible, meaning we should not bring them in except for the utmost dire necessity. This is because a woman remaining in the house idle, not moving and not working, is harmful to her body and also harmful to her thinking, because she will remain inactive. This leads to obesity, diabetes, and also lethargy. Likewise, regarding the mind, for the one who does not work, his mind does not move, so perhaps harmful obsessions and anxieties may take hold of him. But if dire necessity calls for it, there is nothing wrong with it, except that we see that two things are necessary: The first thing: that the servant be Muslim. The second thing: that she have a mahram (a relative one may not marry) with her.
As for the first condition: It is because a disbeliever should not remain between your two sides in your house with your family and your children. Even if the only harm from her were that the people of the house stand for prayer and this woman does not pray, the small children, who are seven years old or close to that, would ask why this woman does not pray. They would then believe that prayer is not necessary. This is if she does not teach them her religion, as it was mentioned to us about some people that they heard the servant teaching the small boys that Isa (Jesus) is Allah (Mighty and Majestic). We ask Allah for safety! This is not far-fetched because it is her religion, a religion that benefits and brings one closer to Allah. She may say this and may do this.
As for the second thing, which is the presence of a mahram (a relative one may not marry): It is because we have heard of terrible things that happen if she does not have a mahram with her, especially if there are adolescent boys in the house. In that case, fitnah (trial, discord or temptation), evil, and calamity occur. For this reason, I do not see a dispensation for a person to bring in a servant except with her mahram (a relative one may not marry). One will benefit from the mahram; he can fulfill the needs of the house from the market, and perhaps he can be a car driver, benefiting the owner of the house. So the important thing is: First, a servant is not brought in except for dire necessity. Second, she must be Muslim. Third, she must be with a mahram (a relative one may not marry).
The questioner : Is it permissible to hire an elderly female servant from her country without a mahram (a relative one may not marry) because it is difficult to bring a mahram for her, especially since homes have expanded and work has increased due to her going out for study? Is this among the needs that assume the status of dire necessity?
The Shaykh : First: May Allah reward you. It is necessary that we do without servants as much as possible, meaning we should not bring them in except for the utmost dire necessity. This is because a woman remaining in the house idle, not moving and not working, is harmful to her body and also harmful to her thinking, because she will remain inactive. This leads to obesity, diabetes, and also lethargy. Likewise, regarding the mind, for the one who does not work, his mind does not move, so perhaps harmful obsessions and anxieties may take hold of him. But if dire necessity calls for it, there is nothing wrong with it, except that we see that two things are necessary: The first thing: that the servant be Muslim. The second thing: that she have a mahram (a relative one may not marry) with her.
As for the first condition: It is because a disbeliever should not remain between your two sides in your house with your family and your children. Even if the only harm from her were that the people of the house stand for prayer and this woman does not pray, the small children, who are seven years old or close to that, would ask why this woman does not pray. They would then believe that prayer is not necessary. This is if she does not teach them her religion, as it was mentioned to us about some people that they heard the servant teaching the small boys that Isa (Jesus) is Allah (Mighty and Majestic). We ask Allah for safety! This is not far-fetched because it is her religion, a religion that benefits and brings one closer to Allah. She may say this and may do this.
As for the second thing, which is the presence of a mahram (a relative one may not marry): It is because we have heard of terrible things that happen if she does not have a mahram with her, especially if there are adolescent boys in the house. In that case, fitnah (trial, discord or temptation), evil, and calamity occur. For this reason, I do not see a dispensation for a person to bring in a servant except with her mahram (a relative one may not marry). One will benefit from the mahram; he can fulfill the needs of the house from the market, and perhaps he can be a car driver, benefiting the owner of the house. So the important thing is: First, a servant is not brought in except for dire necessity. Second, she must be Muslim. Third, she must be with a mahram (a relative one may not marry).