What is the right way to deal with a young, educated, beautiful, unmarried Christian housemaid recent revert to Islam who has won our hearts with her talents/knowledge, generosity and willingness to learn and be a good Muslim? I fear that continuing to support and guide her in all ways including financially (which my husband says we should do as she is a new Muslim) might backfire and be a threat to my marriage, as we sometimes meet and my husband and she politely exchange greetings and as a family, we all know everything about her etc. Please advise. I have played a role in helping her understand and practice Islam better although it is not through me that she was first exposed to Islam.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

It is a good thing that the Muslim would be the reason for guiding non-Muslims to Islam or help them be steadfast on the straight path by means of showing kindness to them and displaying the merits and virtues of Islam in his conduct. It was authentically reported that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “By Allaah, that Allaah should give guidance to one man through you is better for you than to have the red camels (i.e. the most expensive breed of camels).” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

We advise you to continue to show kindness and support to her for, verily, Allaah does not let good deeds go unrewarded.

On the other hand, the female maid is a non-Mahram woman for the husband and all adult sons; therefore, the due Islamic code of interaction between men and women must be observed in dealing with her. She must wear Hijab before them and they cannot be left alone with her and the like of the due Islamic criteria governing male and female interaction. Please refer to Fataawa 92230 and 91455.

It is a priority that you help her find a good and pious Muslim husband. If she has a Muslim Wali (legal guardian), he may marry her off or authorize someone else to marry her off; otherwise, the Muslim judge may act as her Wali in the marriage contract or she may appoint a trustworthy Muslim person to be her Wali.