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Fatwa CenterWife sitting in the same room with her husband and his guests
Question
with refrence to fatwa 90900 i further like to clearify that i have read in books that our prophet PBUH have visited an sahabi home along with some companions and the wife of that sahabi had serve dinner to them , and i also read many times that a wife can sit with husband and serve husband guests , so my point is that why can't the wives sit along with their husbands in same room as they are having proper covering just their hands and face is visible , because i didn't find any thing so far bad about gathering and talking with your close ones (Couple) as they are a part of our social life
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. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.
The narration referred to in this question, is the narration of Sahal Bin Sa'd 
who said: "When Abu Usayd As-Saa'idi got married, he invited the Prophet 
and his companions. None prepared the food for them and brought it to them but his wife, Umm Usayd. She soaked some dates in water in a stone pot overnight, and when the Prophet had finished his food, she provided him with that drink (of soaked dates)." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] Imaam Al-Bukhari
entitled the chapter of this narration by the title "The bride’s service for men at her marriage party."
The scholars made it clear that this practice is restricted to the situation where there is no fear of seduction and while the woman is wearing her Hijab.
Al-Haafith Ibn Hajar said explaining this narration: "This narration provides the evidence that it is permissible for a woman to serve her husband and his guests. Obviously, this is only permissible when there is no fear of seduction and with women wearing their full Islamic Hijab." Shaykh Al-Albany wrote in his book 'etiquettes of wedding night' under the title of 'bride serving men' "there is no harm for a bride to serve guests if she is wearing Hijab and feels safe from temptations for the narration of Sahal bin Sa'd…" then he quoted the above narration.
However, in case of fear of temptation, wives’ service for men, is not permissible in order to block the doors of sin.
As for woman's sitting with men it is more serious than merely serving them, since sitting together requires the people to look at each other, which is something that is hard to avoid, especially when it becomes a common practice of people. In this case, principles that govern the relationship between the two sexes will dissolve, restrictions between them will loosen, and the level of relationship becomes like that which is only permitted for close relatives that are termed in Islam as “Mahaarim (plural of ‘Mahram’ who is one’s spouse or a person whom one is permanently prohibited from marrying due to suckling, marital or blood relations).” Therefore, the Prophet said: "Beware of entering to places where women are alone." A man from the Ansaar [the resident of Madeenah] asked: "What about our in-laws?" The Prophet replied: "The in-laws are death." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
In-laws in this narration refers to all the relatives of the husband like his brother, nephew, cousin etc.
The Prophet's saying the “The in-laws are death" is meant to show the severity of the in-laws, who are not Mahaarim, entering to the place where the wife is alone.
In short, we stress on avoiding from mixing between the two sexes since it leads to corruption and many harms that one may not pay much attention to them until one falls victim to them.
Moreover, one should know that claiming purity of hearts, good intentions, and innocence do not justify mixing of the two sexes on such situations.
Finally, as for woman's uncovering her face and palms in front of Mahaarim please read Fatwa 83033.
Allaah Knows best.
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