Why is it allowed for Muslim females to not make Hijab from the the slaves or workers?

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatuh

According to the explanation of verse 31 in Surah Nur, great scholars including those from the Sahaba (RadiyAllahu Anhum) and the Tabi’een (Rahmatullahi Alayhim) have indicated that the part of the verse, “or to those owned by their right hands”, applies only to female slaves, which means that hijab will be necessary in front of male slaves as it is in front of all other non-mehrams.

Sa’id ibn al-Musayyib (Rahmatullah Alayhi) has advised not to be under the misconception that these particular wordings in the verse are general for both male and female slaves. It is only female slaves that are included in this verse. (Ma’ariful Quran, 6/415)

Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (RadyAllahu Anhu), Hasan al-Basri (Rahmatullah Alayhi), and Ibn Sirin (Rahmatullah Alayhi) have stated that it is not permissible for a male slave to see his female owner’s hair. (Ruh al-Ma’ani)

Ibn Jarir (Rahmatullah Alayhi) also stated that this verse is referring to non-Muslim women from amongst the idol worshippers, not men. It will be permissible for a Muslim female not to observe full hijab in front of her since she is her slave-girl. (Tafsir ibn Kathir)

And Allah knows best

Ml. Asif Umar,

Student Darul Iftaa

Checked and Approved by:

Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Darul Iftaa