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Fatwa CenterHiring a Christian maid who can live in and serve her
Question
I live in Kuwait. I have some health problems and need a maid to live with me and serve me. The only person available now is a Christian who is good. Am I allowed to hire a Christian maid to live with me?
Answer
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.
There is no harm in Islamic Shariah to hire a maid even if she is not a Muslim. This kind of hiring is permissible in Shariah.
Allah Says (interpretation of meaning): {…It is We Who portion out between them their livelihood in this world, and We raised some of them above others in ranks, so that some may employ others in their work. But the Mercy (Paradise) of your Lord (O Muhammad SAW) is better than the (wealth of this world) which they amass. }[43:32].
First you have to seek a Muslim practising woman, as the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: Do not take as a companion except a Mu’min, and do not let anybody eat your food except a pious person. [Reported by Ahmad and Ashab al-Sunan]
And in case there is no Muslim maid, then there is no harm, Insha Allah, to hire a non-Muslim, but she has to dress respectfully in front of strange men and not to stay alone (in seclusion) with men present in the house.
Moreover, a male servant should not stay in seclusion with a woman. You have to advise her and guide her with good manners and soft words to whatever is good, hoping that Allah will open her heart (to Islam) and guide her, thanks to you.
However, if she does not accept the call (to Islam), you do not have to pressure her. You have to fulfill her right fully according to the agreement between you and her.
All in all, there is no harm in hiring a non-Muslim maid to carry out home duties if that does not result in any Haram as we have already discussed.
Allah knows best.
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