Is it permissible to take a housemaid along when visiting one's family or the husband's family for several days, and to ask for her help with chores in their homes?

A domestic worker is a private employee, and the hiring contract for her can be established in two ways:

First: If the contract explicitly states that the domestic worker will serve her employer wherever she moves, then this must be fulfilled, based on the Almighty’s saying: ﴿O YOU WHO HAVE BELIEVED, FULFILL [YOUR] CONTRACTS﴾ and the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) saying: “Muslims are bound by their conditions.”

Second: If the contract does not explicitly state this, then the default is that she works in her employer’s home. Her working outside of it is subject to custom; if the custom is for her to move with her employer, then she is obliged to do so. However, her service is limited to the employer only, unless there is mutual agreement.

Regarding the domestic worker traveling with her employer, there is a difference of opinion:

The first opinion: She is obliged to travel if the contract is unrestricted and she did not stipulate against traveling. This is the view of the Hanbalis.

The second opinion: She is not obliged to travel unless it is stipulated in the contract; this is because travel service involves increased hardship. This is the view of the Hanafis.

It is safer to explicitly state in the contract the issue of service when moving and traveling.