The excecutive assistant should be a Muslim man, since he is from the close associates of the Khalifah.

The executive assistant is directly connected to the Khalifah, like the delegated assistant, and is from the close associates of the Khalifah. His work is attached to the ruler (the Khalifah), and his work necessitates that he could be pursued by the Khalifah and meet with him separately at any time of the night or day, which means that it is not suitable with the circumstances of a woman in terms of the Shari’ah rules. Therefore, the assistant should be a man.

In the same way, it is not permitted for the executive assistant to be a non-Muslim, rather it is obligatory for him to be a Muslim since he is from the close associates of the Khalifah – due to His (swt) words

“O you who have believed, do not take as intimates those other than yourselves, for they will not spare you [any] ruin. They wish you would have hardship. Hatred has already appeared from their mouths, and what their breasts conceal is greater” (TMQ 3:118). The prohibition of the Khalifah taking close associates from non-Muslims is explicit in this verse and ,therefore, it is not permitted for the executive assistant to be a non-Muslim. Rather, it is obligatory for him to be Muslim, due to his direct connection with the Khalifah, and the fact that he is not separate from him, like the delegated assistant. It is permitted to have more than one executive assistant according to the need and the work that is required interfacing between the Khalifah and others.