It is an undeniable reality that we live in a day and age where most homes have some form of domestic workers or staff who are in and out of the house, or in the vicinity of the home, attending to their domestic duties.
In this regard, it is imperative to bear in mind that though these staff may seem to be a part of the household – in reality they are NOT part of the household, and hence there are certain critical laws of purdah pertaining to them which must be upheld and observed.
Male Worker
Many homes have a male worker employed to attend to the garden, wash the car, clean outside the home, etc. While it is good that the male worker remains outside the home, one problem comes in when it is the woman of the home who communicates with him and interacts with him. In many cases, it is noticed that purdah with such a worker is ‘overlooked’ and hence the woman neglects to cover her face, arms, hair, etc. before such a worker.
Similarly, the curtains are not closed, or the kitchen door is left open while cooking, allowing the male worker to see into the home and view the womenfolk within. Obviously, all this is impermissible, and hence adequate caution must be exercised.
A further noteworthy point is that apart from the wife in the home, when one has young daughters then extra caution must be exercised in their regard as well. They should not be allowed to go out into the garden while the gardener is working or begin to communicate with him.
Unfortunately, a new trend that has emerged nowadays is for male workers to be brought INTO the home where they work elbow-to-elbow or in plain sight of the womenfolk. At times, these workers are brought into the home to clean windows, iron, sweep, etc. Nevertheless, regardless of the work assigned to them, they should not be in the home in the midst of the womenfolk.
Especially close to Ramadhaan time, some women hire male workers to fill their savouries. Often there is scant regard for purdah as the women openly communicate with them and work with them. This is clearly impermissible.
Female Workers
When male workers should not be brought into the home, then the only alternative is to employ female workers to attend to the domestic chores. However, even when employing female workers in the home, there are certain important laws of purdah that must be upheld.
The first is in regard to the males in the home. Since it is necessary for males to observe purdah from non-mahram females, it is necessary for the menfolk in the home (father and young sons) to keep a distance from the maid. Regrettably, cases have been reported of fathers or young sons becoming involved in sin with the domestic workers. It was obviously the lack of purdah that led to this disgraceful and shameful outcome.
It is for this reason that the ‘Ulama advise that when hiring a domestic worker, we should try our best to select a worker who is old and unattractive, as then she will not become a means of temptation for the males in the home. Similarly, it is vitally important that the maid should never be left alone in the home with the husband or young son as this will provide the opportunity for Shaitaan to lead them astray.
The second is in regard to the females in the home. Even for the females in the home, there are certain laws of purdah that may apply in relation to the domestic workers – especially on account of the increasing evils and prevalent vices witnessed in society today.
The Fuqahaa (jurists) explain that it is not permissible for a Muslim woman to expose her beauty before a non-Muslim woman. Hence, if the maid employed in the home is a non-Muslim, then it is necessary for the womenfolk in the home to take care and ensure that their hair is covered before her. (Raddul Muhtaar vol. 6, pg. 371)
May Allah Ta‘ala bless us and our families with hayaa and safeguard us from the evils of the age, aameen.