Q. Please advise on the permissibility of engaging a nonMuslim teacher to teach our children at home.

A. It is not permissible to have a non-Muslim to teach your children even at home. The kufr and spiritual rijs and najaasat of his/ her kufr will have a detrimental athar (effect) on the children. Rasulullah (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) forbade breastfeeding by even a Muslim woman if she is ignorant. He said that her ignorance will be transferred to the baby via her milk. To a greater extent will kufr, rijs and najaasat of the non-Muslim be contagious.