The ruling on leaving a driver alone with one’s mahrams, and the ruling on employing disbelievers

Question:
This message reached us from the pious Fatimah bint Ali (may Allah be pleased with her) from Buraydah. She says in her message:
Is a man considered a *diwath* (one who lacks jealousy) if he hires a driver for his car, and the driver goes out with this man’s wife or daughter, who is not a mahram? The driver is a young, well-dressed man, and he may not be a Muslim?
It is known that he sits in the house with the women while the head of the household is not present.

Answer:
This is an ugly act that should not be done, but he is not called a *diwath*; because it may have been confused upon him, and he had a good opinion of his family. He is not considered a *diwath*, but he is to be feared from sin. He should have jealousy, caution, and concern for the safety of his family. But he is not labeled a *diwath*; because he may have a doubt, he may not have intended evil, and he may have been negligent due to his ignorance. So he is to be taught and guided, and he is not called a *diwath* unless he intentionally commits falsehood and is lax until he sends his wife with a non-mahram, without a mahram and without a companion, and leaves her with him, so that she is with him in the house without a mahram and without anyone to mix with them. This is a clear case of *diwath*.
The obligatory thing is that a non-mahram driver does not take the woman alone, with no one else with her. Rather, someone must be with her so that there is no seclusion. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: If there is a third person with them whom they can trust, there is no seclusion. So if she goes out with another woman or two women, or with her husband’s brother, or her husband’s uncle, then there is no seclusion at that time, provided the outing does not involve suspicion. In that case, there is no harm.
And in the other hadith: ; because in this, the seclusion is removed.
In summary: It is not permissible for a non-mahram man to drive a woman alone. Rather, someone else must be with her, out of fear of the sin of seclusion, and out of fear of the consequences of this matter, and what Satan may do in beautifying falsehood. He should not sit with her alone in the house, and it is not permissible for her to sit with him in the house, even if they are a group; because he looks at their private parts. Rather, he should be outside the house in another place. He should have a place outside the house in the courtyard, or in another place, and not be with the women in the house; because women are private parts, and even if they are many, if he is with them in the middle of the house, he may see their private parts, and they may be lax with him in some things, and it may lead to seclusion with one of them. So it is not permissible for him to be with them in the house. Rather, he should be separate and far from mixing with the women. It is not permissible for him to be alone with a woman, neither in the house nor in the car. Rather, a man or another woman or more must be with them so that the seclusion is removed, and so that they can be reassured of the means of safety.
It is not permissible to employ a disbeliever at all, neither in the Peninsula nor elsewhere. In the Peninsula, it is more severe; because it is a land where it is not permissible for disbelievers to remain. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered the expulsion of the Jews, the Christians, and others from the Peninsula. So it is not permissible for a Muslim to bring a female or male disbeliever to this Peninsula to serve in his house, or for a man to drive with him. This is not permissible. Rather, they must be kept away from the Peninsula, and only the people of Islam should remain in the Peninsula. The state must observe this matter and strive to keep them away from the Peninsula, and no one should remain in it except those whom dire necessity requires, such as a doctor whom dire necessity requires, or an engineer whom dire necessity requires. As for the rest of the people, workers and non-workers, it is obligatory to keep them away from this Peninsula.
It is not hidden what evil results from the presence of disbelievers for the Muslims in their morals and beliefs. But it is permissible to employ a disbeliever outside the Peninsula: in Sham, in Egypt, in Iraq, outside the Peninsula. He is employed in works that do not harm the Muslims, especially if he is trustworthy, known for his truthfulness, and known for his trustworthiness. In that case, there is no harm in employing him as a driver to drive him, or employing him to build a house for him, or a farm, or the like. The Muslim is better than him. The Muslim is more deserving than him in every situation, in every place. In every place, the Muslim is more deserving. The good Muslim, the Muslim known for his uprightness, is more deserving in every situation. And the disbeliever does not trust. Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Imran: 118] So the disbeliever does not trust and cannot be relied upon. And it is his nature that he does not spare us harm, meaning: deficiency, destruction, and transgression against us. And wherever it is possible for the worker to be a Muslim in any place, and the female worker to be a Muslim in any place, this is what should be done, and this is the most cautious and preferable, to avoid evil and its people. Yes.