Employing Male Domestic Workers

Q1. Is it permissible to employ male domestic workers in homes where females live? Can females wash the clothes of males?

A1. It is not permissible to have male domestic workers in homes where only females reside. However, it will be permissible if there are some males present. It is allowed for females to wash the clothes of males.

Q2. What is the ruling on male workers washing the clothes of the family, including the females? What if they wash everything excluding underwear?

A2. It is not appropriate for males to wash the clothes of females. This is against Hayaa (modesty).

Q3. If the males come into the house and work, would this be considered as intermingling if the women are about and/or supervising?

A3. If the male workers must come into the house, it is necessary that the women be completely covered, and there is no seclusion between the males and females.

Q4. If, for some reason, there is a need for a female to work in an area where a male could see her, should she keep her sleeves covered until her wrists, even if it may become wet or dirty?

A4. It is necessary that a woman covers her Awrah at all times. Therefore, it is not allowed for her to raise her sleeves above the wrists.

Q5. If the women wear Niqaab, would it then be permissible to communicate with the male workers to carry out the various chores?

A5. It is not permissible for a woman to communicate with a male worker even if she is wearing Niqaab. However, if there is no male present and there is a need for her to communicate, then it is allowed to do so from behind a Purdah/separation.

Q6. For females to have their freedom and privacy, is it best to employ females only for both the inside and outside work, or should they carry out these chores themselves?

A6. It is allowed to employ females for both inside and outside work, on condition that there is no intermingling between males and females.

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ قُل لِّأَزْوَٰجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَآءِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِن جَلَـٰبِيبِهِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ أَدْنَىٰٓ أَن يُعْرَفْنَ فَلَا يُؤْذَيْنَ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورً رَّحِيمًا (الاحزاب 59)

إِنَّ الْحَيَاءَ شُعْبَةٌ مِنَ الإِيمَانِ

(ابن ماجة 58)

إِنَّ مِمَّا أَدْرَكَ النَّاسُ مِنْ كَلاَمِ النُّبُوَّةِ الأُولَى إِذَا لَمْ تَسْتَحِي فَاصْنَعْ مَا شِئْتَ

(صحيح البخاري 6120)

إِنَّ فِيكَ خَصْلَتَيْنِ يُحِبُّهُمَا اللَّهُ الْحِلْمَ وَالْحَيَاءَ

(ابن ماجة 4188)

بَدَنُ الْحُرَّةِ عَوْرَةٌ إلَّا وَجْهَهَا وَكَفَّيْهَا وَقَدَمَيْهَا. كَذَا فِي الْمُتُونِ وَشَعْرُ الْمَرْأَةِ مَا عَلَى رَأْسِهَا عَوْرَةٌ وَأَمَّا الْمُسْتَرْسِلُ فَفِيهِ رِوَايَتَانِ الْأَصَحُّ أَنَّهُ عَوْرَةٌ. كَذَا فِي الْخُلَاصَةِ وَهُوَ الصَّحِيحُ وَبِهِ أَخَذَ الْفَقِيهُ أَبُو اللَّيْثِ وَعَلَيْهِ الْفَتْوَى.

(الفتاوى العالمكيرية 1/58)

وه ملازم م ہے ، گھر کا کام بھی کرتا ہے تو بسا اوقات اس نامحرم سے پردہ کرنا ضروری ہے (۱) اور جب و ہے (۱) ہے، کی سے خلوت اور تنہائی کی بھی نوبت آتی ہوگی ، عورت کو نامحرم کے ساتھ خلوت اور تنہائی کرنا حرام ہے (۲) ، لہذا اس ملازم کو علیحدہ کر کے کسی عورت یا نا بالغ یا کسی محرم کو ملازم رکھا جائے ، ورنہ اس سے باقاعدہ پردہ کرنا چاہئے ، اس کے سامنے چہرہ کھول کر بے پردہ آنا اور اس کو مکان میں بے پردہ بلانا جائز نہیں۔ اپنے آرام کی خاطر شریعت کے خلاف کرنا اور خدا اور رسول کے احکام نہ مانناسخت گناہ ہے (۱) ۔ فقط واللہ تعالیٰ اعلم

(فتاوى محمودية 19/206)

ملازم سے پردہ ہے، دیگر نامحرموں کی طرح اس کے سامنے بے حجاب خواتین کا آنا جا ئز نہیں

(آب كي مسائل اور انكا حل 8/101)

ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:

Mufti Muhammad Isa Ali

Date: 18 Dhul Hijjah 1446 / 15 June 2025

CHECKED AND APPROVED BY:

Mufti Yacoob Vally Saheb