What is the ruling of Islam regarding a widowed man over sixty, without children, who lives with two female servants aged 25 and 15?
The madhahib (schools of thought) have agreed upon the impermissibility of khalwa (private seclusion) with a non-mahram woman, and this applies to a man over sixty as well as others. As for a man's khalwa with more than one woman, there is a difference of opinion. The Shafi'is and Hanbalis hold it to be impermissible unless there is a mahram present for one of them. The Hanafis permit it if a trustworthy woman is present. The correct view is the permissibility of a man's khalwa with women for whom he is not a mahram, as long as there is no fear of fitna (temptation), such as if the maid's sister is trustworthy and modest. However, it is preferable to employ a man instead of a woman as a precaution for religion and to cut off any causes of fitna.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/100651