Is it permissible for a Christian maid to reside near the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah, or must she live outside the boundaries of the Haram?
It is permissible for a Christian to visit Madinah, for Christians entered it during the time of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, such as the delegation from Najran. It has been reported by Ibn Al-Qayyim that Ahmad ibn Hanbal had two narrations regarding their prohibition from the sacred precinct of Madinah. However, he (Ibn Al-Qayyim) inferred that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, hosted the delegation of Najran Christians in his mosque, and they prayed therein. This occurred after the revelation of the verse prohibiting polytheists from Al-Masjid Al-Haram, which means that the verse did not address the sacred precinct of Madinah and its mosque.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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