I am among those whom marital circumstances have compelled to bring in a domestic worker to care for the children while we are away, and this worker is Muslim, but I often see her
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The questioner : I am among those whom circumstances and my wife's circumstances have compelled to bring in a domestic worker to care for the children while we are away, and this worker is Muslim, praise be to Allah, but I often see her with her face uncovered, despite my attempts to avoid looking at her as much as possible, and that is because of the smallness of the house. Knowing that I am compelled to have her present to care for the children, is there a sin on me for leaving the children with this woman? And is there a sin on me for seeing this woman while she is uncovering her face?
The Shaykh : First: I advise my fellow citizens not to bring domestic workers to the country, because this leads to harms in some cases, and it leads to the woman who is the mistress of the house not working in the house; she keeps her hand on her cheek, and worries and anxieties take hold of her, and the body does not move in a way that brings vitality. You find the mistress of the house sleeping night and day while the worker is working. Why? And it is much better for the woman to work herself and move her blood and nerves.
Second: Great harms have occurred from these domestic workers. How many times have we heard of an upright, elderly man whom Satan tempted, so that what happened was the sin of fornication between him and the maid.
Third: Some of the workers have committed aggression by placing sorcery in the food or drink or something similar, and this is dangerous, because if these workers are angered by the master of the house, they may plot against him, even at the last moment.
Therefore, as a first priority, I advise our fellow citizens, warning them, not to bring in maids. If dire necessity calls for this, then a mahram (a relative one may not marry) is required, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:. This woman must have a mahram, a husband or a relative. As for her coming without a mahram, she is in danger, and the people of the house are in danger, especially if there are young men in the house and the parents are negligent, then the matter is serious.
Then, if the husband and his wife go out to study or learn, and there is no one in the house except this maid, he is left alone with her:.
Therefore, we see that a maid should not be hired except with two conditions: the first condition is dire necessity, and the second condition is the presence of a mahram.
As for a man looking at her face, she is like any other woman; it is not permissible for him to look at her while she is not a mahram for him. He has the first look. If he enters the house and she is uncovering her face and she does not know he is there, then he averts his gaze, and the woman covers herself, and the issue is resolved. But as for her remaining with her face uncovered, coming to him with tea, breakfast, dinner, and lunch while she is uncovered, especially if she is young and beautiful, Satan will surely stir up what is dormant.
The Shaykh : First: I advise my fellow citizens not to bring domestic workers to the country, because this leads to harms in some cases, and it leads to the woman who is the mistress of the house not working in the house; she keeps her hand on her cheek, and worries and anxieties take hold of her, and the body does not move in a way that brings vitality. You find the mistress of the house sleeping night and day while the worker is working. Why? And it is much better for the woman to work herself and move her blood and nerves.
Second: Great harms have occurred from these domestic workers. How many times have we heard of an upright, elderly man whom Satan tempted, so that what happened was the sin of fornication between him and the maid.
Third: Some of the workers have committed aggression by placing sorcery in the food or drink or something similar, and this is dangerous, because if these workers are angered by the master of the house, they may plot against him, even at the last moment.
Therefore, as a first priority, I advise our fellow citizens, warning them, not to bring in maids. If dire necessity calls for this, then a mahram (a relative one may not marry) is required, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
A woman should not travel except with a mahram
لا تسافر امرأة إلا مع ذي محرمThen, if the husband and his wife go out to study or learn, and there is no one in the house except this maid, he is left alone with her:
No man is alone with a woman except that Satan is the third among them
وما خلا رجل بامرأة إلا كان الشيطان ثالثهماTherefore, we see that a maid should not be hired except with two conditions: the first condition is dire necessity, and the second condition is the presence of a mahram.
As for a man looking at her face, she is like any other woman; it is not permissible for him to look at her while she is not a mahram for him. He has the first look. If he enters the house and she is uncovering her face and she does not know he is there, then he averts his gaze, and the woman covers herself, and the issue is resolved. But as for her remaining with her face uncovered, coming to him with tea, breakfast, dinner, and lunch while she is uncovered, especially if she is young and beautiful, Satan will surely stir up what is dormant.