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Fatwa CenterHer cousin is accused of sexual harassment
Question
A cousin of mine (girl) is engaged to another cousin in family. She is engaged to him and their Nikaah has recently taken place. Now that cousin of mine told my sister that her husband's brother has started to have sexual relationship with the maid in their house. And that maid herself told my (girl) cousin. She also shares this with her husband that his brother is engaged in bad activities.
My cousin also told my sister that her husband's brother try to touch her in absence of others. Now that girl does not want to tell anything to her mother in-law because her family ties may suffer, her mother in-law does not believe her and a chaos starts in the family, and his husband knows that his brother is engaged in such activities but to what extant I don't know. I myself think that I can not tell this thing by myself to anybody may be because the elders do not believe and you know that a family tension may start. My cousin (girl) told his brother that how his husband's brother teases her in another's absence. He says I am in waiting for the right moment to catch him. Some other girls in my family also had bad experience like his staring, etc. I want to know the Fatwa about him. I mean I feel that as a Muslim I have some responsibility even though I cannot do anything. Should I just leave this situation? And this is the moral responsibility of that girl and her husband.
Answer
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 
is His slave and Messenger.
First of all, it should be noted that it is not permissible to accuse people of having committed obnoxious acts without evidence, as in principle a Muslim is innocent until proven guilty. Allaah Says (what means): {O you who have believed, avoid much [negative] assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin.}[Quran 49:12] However, if it is proven that a specific person is in relationship with a non-Mahram (marriageable woman), or that he has done what displeases Allaah with her, then whoever knows this should repudiate this act from him. This woman could threaten him to take the matter to whoever will be able to prevent him from this act.
It is absolutely not permissible to allow a man to enter upon marriageable women without the presence of their Mahram (non-marriageable relative). The Prophet said: "Beware of entering upon marriageable women." A man from the Ansaar remarked: "O! Messenger of Allaah, what about an in-law? He replied: "He is death itself (i.e. his seclusion with women is as serious and dangerous as death)." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
The people who were tolerant about this matter have indeed committed a sin, especially the relatives, so one has to be careful. Besides, one should be careful of taking home maids, as there are many disadvantages in doing so. However, if there is really a need for a home maid, then the religious requirements should be met. For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 83374.
Finally, it should be noted that if it is proven that that maid has a relationship with that man and she has not repented from doing so, then it is an obligation to dismiss her from work as she might corrupt other people in the household.
Allaah Knows best.
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