Disabilities islamic perspective

UNDERSTANDING
DISABILITY
ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE

INTRODUCTION
Many people with disability do not have equal access to
health-care, education and employment.
They do not receive disability related services they need
They experience exclusion from every day life activities
People with disabilities have vast potential to contribute to the
society
Family, friends and communities can play major role in helping
the disabled to unlock their potentials
Islam encourages inclusion of disabled individuals into society
as respectable members

All humans are dignified
and equal
◦ َ‫ز‬َ‫ر‬َ‫و‬ ِ‫ر‬ْ‫ح‬َ‫ب‬ْ‫َال‬‫و‬ ِ‫ر‬َ‫ب‬ْ‫ال‬ ‫ي‬ِ‫ف‬ ْ‫م‬ُ‫ه‬‫َا‬‫ن‬ْ‫َل‬‫م‬َ‫ح‬َ‫و‬ َ‫م‬َ‫د‬‫آ‬ ‫ي‬ِ‫ن‬َ‫ب‬ ‫َا‬‫ن‬ْ‫م‬َّ‫ر‬َ‫ك‬ ْ‫د‬َ‫ق‬َ‫َل‬‫و‬ْ‫م‬ُ‫َاه‬‫ن‬ْ‫ل‬َّ‫ض‬َ‫َف‬‫و‬ ِ‫ت‬‫ا‬َ‫ب‬ِ‫ي‬َّ‫الط‬ َ‫ن‬ِ‫م‬ ‫م‬ُ‫َاه‬‫ن‬ْ‫ق‬َ‫ل‬َ‫ع‬‫ى‬
‫ا‬‫يًل‬ِ‫ض‬ْ‫ف‬َ‫ت‬ ‫َا‬‫ن‬ْ‫ق‬َ‫ل‬َ‫خ‬ ْ‫ن‬َّ‫م‬ِ‫م‬ ٍ‫ير‬ِ‫ث‬َ‫ك‬–
◦ 17:70
◦ And We have certainly honored the children of Adam and carried
them on the land and sea and provided for them of the good
things and preferred them over much of what We have created,
with [definite] preference.

Prophet Mohammad (SAW) said:
“Your Lord is one and your
father is one”
(Musnad Ahmed: 22872)
“All mankind is from Adam and
Eve. An Arab has no superiority
over a non-Arab, nor a non-
Arab has any superiority over
Arab. Also a white has no
superiority over a black nor a
black has any superiority over a
white - except by piety and
good action. (Serman of the
Prophet (SAW) at Hajjatul

We are reliant upon Allah and upon each
other
َ‫ان‬ َ‫نس‬ِ ْ‫اْل‬ َّ‫ن‬ِ‫إ‬ َّ‫ًل‬َ‫ك‬‫ى‬َ‫غ‬ْ‫ط‬َ‫ي‬َ‫ل‬–96:6
ُ‫ه‬‫آ‬َّ‫ر‬ ‫ن‬َ‫أ‬‫ى‬َ‫ن‬ْ‫غ‬َ‫ت‬ ْ‫اس‬-96:7
No! [But] indeed, man transgresses. Because he
sees himself self-sufficient.

Our fates are intertwined
Our well-being and prosperity is very much connected to
that of our disabled brothers and sisters
It may be the prayers of disabled that are sustaining our
communities.
Prophet (SAW) said, “ you are given sustenance and victory
because of the virtue of those who are disadvantaged
amongst you.”

Role of
Faith
Faith plays a major role in the lives of people with
disabilities
When nothing seems possible, they turn to their
faith and houses of worship to draw strength and
regroup.
Housed of worship must be accessible and there
must be welcoming environment in them for the
disabled.
Environment must nurture their potential and value
them as people with disabilities rather disabled
people.
We have obligation to make this a reality.

Disability
data
World report on disability indicates that average rate of
disability on a worldwide scale is about 15%
Over 54 million people in US have some form of disability
Out of 70 million families, 20.3 million have at least one family
member with disability
CDC says, 1 in 88 American children have some form of autism
spectrum disorder. This is 78% increase compared to a decade
ago.
Over 90 million people in India have some form of disability. Less than
one % go to school. Out of 520 school districts in India, 300 do not
have facilities for people with disabilities.

Number
of
disabled
people in
other
countries
Canada – 4 million Pakistan- 17 million
Bangladesh-8.8
million
Egypt – 7 million
Other parts of the
world- 1 billion
people have some
disability
350 million people
with disabilities live in
areas where there are
no facilities for them

More
data
105-115 million children who are not in school, 30-40
million have disabilities
$1.71-2.23 trillions are lost from global GDP because of
the presence of disabilities.
At least 25% of the population in a given country is
adversely affected by the presence of some form of
disability.
As many as 80% of the people with disabilities live in
isolated rural areas in developing countries .

Islam’s view on disability
◦ Disability is not defined term in Islam
◦ Specific words are used for specific conditions:
A’ma- Someone with impaired vision
Asamm- Someone with impaired hearing
Abkam or Akhras- Speech impaired
A’raj- Mobility impaired.
◦ Islam recognizes the fact that disability can lead to
disadvantage
◦ Society disables individuals by not creating
exclusive norms and being accessible.

Adjectives
used to
describe
classes of
disbled
◦Yateem- Orphans
◦Da’eef- Weak
◦Mustad’af- Oppressed
◦Ala-safar or Wabnu’sabeel- Traveller
◦Miskeen- Indigent
◦Mareed- Sick. It will include people with
physical disabilities like amputees
◦Faqeer- Needy

Is disability a ‘punishment’ or a ‘test’?
◦ ‫ا‬‫ا‬‫ر‬ ْ‫س‬ُ‫ي‬ ِ‫ر‬ ْ‫س‬ُ‫ع‬ْ‫ال‬ َ‫ع‬َ‫م‬ َّ‫ن‬ِ‫إ‬َ‫ف‬-94:5‫ا‬‫ا‬‫ر‬ ْ‫س‬ُ‫ي‬ ِ‫ر‬ ْ‫س‬ُ‫ع‬ْ‫ال‬ َ‫ع‬َ‫م‬ َّ‫ن‬ِ‫إ‬-94:6
For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease. indeed, with hardship [will be]
ease.
ۚ ‫ا‬‫ا‬‫ه‬‫ا‬‫ع‬ ْ‫س‬ُ‫و‬ ‫ه‬‫َل‬ِّ‫إ‬ ‫ا‬ ً‫س‬ْ‫ف‬‫ا‬‫ن‬ ُ ‫ه‬‫اَّلل‬ ُ‫ف‬ِّ‫ل‬‫ا‬‫ك‬ُ‫ي‬ ‫ا‬‫َل‬‫ا‬‫ك‬ ‫ا‬‫ا‬‫م‬ ‫ا‬‫ا‬‫ه‬‫ا‬‫ل‬ْ‫ت‬‫ا‬‫ب‬ ‫ا‬‫س‬‫ا‬‫ت‬ْ‫اك‬ ‫ا‬‫ا‬‫م‬ ‫ا‬‫ا‬‫ه‬ْ‫ي‬‫ا‬‫ل‬‫ا‬‫ع‬‫ا‬‫و‬ ْ‫ت‬‫ا‬‫ب‬ ‫ا‬‫س‬ۗ
-2:286
Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity. It will have [the
consequence of] what [good] it has gained, and it will bear [the consequence of]
what [evil] it has earned.

Disability is a test from Allah (SWT)

Disability,
punishment
or test?
Disability should not be looked at as
burden or punishment.
Disability is a test from Allah with multiple
rewards if faced with patience
Prophet Mohammad (SAW) narrated that Allah declared
, “ When I test my servant by taking away his two
beloved (eyes) and he remains patient, I grant him
paradise. “ (Sahih Bukhari, 5250.)
Know that for those who endure pain and tests
with patience, Prophet Mohammad (SAW)
promised Jannah. (Sahih Bukhari, 555.)

Concessions
provided in
Islam to
persons with
disability
Believing individuals with disabilities must
their religious obligations
If an obligation is beyond their capacity, then Islam
provides accommodation and concession accordingly.
Prophet (SAW) said, “Pray standing; if you can not pray
sitting; if you can not pray lying on one side.” (Bukhari,
555)
In draft for a battle, Allah (SWT) grants exception to
with disabilities: “ The blind, the lame and the sick will
be blamed (if they stay back). “ (48:17)
Their rewards remain the same: ” those believers staying
home, besides the disabled, are not equal to those
in Allah’s way. “ (4:95)

Society’s responsibility
◦ Society must facilitate the inclusion of people with disabilities
◦ Allah encouraged the practice of the companions who hosted
people with disabilities and shared meals with them. (24:61)
◦ The Prophet (SAW) once visited a man and prayed in his home
when the man decided to start a mosque in his home due to weak
eye sight. (Bukhari:1057)
◦ He honored a woman with psychological disorder when she asked
to consult with him privately. (Bukhari: 799)
◦ Allah forbade believers to mock each other. Prophet (SAW) warned,
“Allah curses anyone who misguides a blind person and leads him
away from the path.” (Bukhari: 4300)
◦ Prophet (SAW) said, “ Victory and sustenance comes from sincere
prayers of the weakest among us.” (Adab Mufrad of Bukhari: 887)

Abdullah bin Ummi Maktoom (RA)
◦ َ‫س‬َ‫ب‬َ‫ع‬ٰ‫ى‬َّ‫َل‬‫و‬َ‫ت‬َ‫و‬-ُ‫ه‬َ‫ء‬‫َا‬‫ج‬ ‫ن‬َ‫أ‬‫َى‬‫م‬ ْ‫ع‬َ ْ‫اْل‬-َّ‫ل‬َ‫ع‬َ‫ل‬ َ‫ك‬‫ي‬ِ‫ر‬ْ‫د‬ُ‫ي‬ ‫َا‬‫م‬َ‫و‬ُ‫ه‬‫ى‬َّ‫ك‬َّ‫ز‬َ‫ي‬َ‫ع‬َ‫ف‬‫َن‬‫ت‬َ‫ف‬ ُ‫ر‬َّ‫ك‬َّ‫َذ‬‫ي‬ ْ‫و‬َ‫أ‬ُ‫ه‬
‫ى‬َ‫ر‬ْ‫ك‬ِ‫الذ‬
ِ‫َن‬‫م‬ ‫ا‬َّ‫م‬َ‫أ‬‫َى‬‫ن‬ْ‫َغ‬‫ت‬ ْ‫اس‬-ُ‫ه‬َ‫ل‬ َ‫نت‬َ‫أ‬َ‫ف‬‫ى‬َّ‫د‬َ‫ص‬َ‫ت‬َّ‫ّل‬َ‫أ‬ َ‫ك‬ْ‫ي‬َ‫ل‬َ‫ع‬ ‫َا‬‫م‬َ‫و‬‫ى‬َّ‫ك‬َّ‫ز‬َ‫ي‬َ‫ك‬َ‫ء‬‫َا‬‫ج‬ ‫َن‬‫م‬ ‫ا‬َّ‫م‬َ‫َأ‬‫و‬‫ى‬َ‫ع‬ ْ‫َس‬‫ي‬
َ‫و‬ُ‫َه‬‫و‬‫ى‬ َ‫ش‬ْ‫َخ‬‫ي‬-ُ‫ه‬ْ‫ن‬َ‫ع‬ َ‫نت‬َ‫أ‬َ‫ف‬‫ى‬َّ‫ه‬َ‫ل‬َ‫ت‬-
The Prophet frowned and turned away because there came to him the blind man,
[interrupting].But what would make you perceive, [O Muhammad], that perhaps he
might be purified Or be reminded, and the remembrance would benefit him? As
for he who thinks himself without need, to him you give attention. And not upon
you [is any blame] if he will not be purified. But as for he who came to you striving
[for knowledge], While he fears [ Allah ] from him you are distracted.

Examples of
Prophet’s(SAW)
companions
with disabilities
◦ Ata ibn Abi Rabah (RA) was paralyzed, blind in
one eye and later was completely blind. He
dedicated his life to seek knowledge from the
companions of the Prophet (SAW) and later
became Mufti of Mecca.
◦ Abu Ubaidah Ibn Jarrah had a disabled leg, yet
he insisted to join the battles with the Prophet
(SAW).
◦ Julaybib (RA) was described as deformed in
appearance. Many people in Madinah made
him outcast. Prophet (SAW) approached a
family to give their daughter in nikah. Parents
had some reluctance, but the daughter
accepted the proposal and they were happily
married.

Woman of Paradise
◦ Ibn Abbas (RA) said to Ata ibn Abi Rabah, “Shall I show you a
woman from the people of Paradise?” He replied, “Yes”.
◦ He said, “ This black lady came to the Prophet (SAW) and said
she gets attacks of epilepsy and her body gets uncovered. She
asked if he could make dua for her.”
◦ Prophet (SAW) said to her, “ If you wish , be patient and you
will enter Paradise. If you wish I will invoke Allah (SWT) to
cure you.”
◦ She replied, ” I shall remain patient, but please invoke Allah
(SWT) for me that I may not become uncovered.”

◦Abdullah Ibn Masood (RA) was a weak (skinny)
person, yet he became the scholar of Quran.
◦Once he climbed a tree and other companions
laughed at him because of his legs were skinny.
◦Prophet (SAW) stopped them (from laughing).
◦He told them the legs of Ibn Masood (RA) are
heavier than Uhad mountain in the sale on the
Judgment Day.
Abdullah Ibn Masood (RA)

Muslim rulers caring for disabled
◦ Omar Ibn Al-Khattab, the third Muslim leader, provided a blind
man with housing near the mosque after the father of the
disabled boy complained to Omar about his son being unable to
reach the mosque.
◦ In Damascus, the Umayyad caliph, al Walid ibn Abd al Malik,
established the first care home for intellectually disabled
individuals.
◦ He also built the first hospital which accommodated the
intellectually disabled as part of its services. He also assigned
each disabled and needy individual a caregiver (Aljazoli, 2004).

Acts of some Muslim leaders for people
with disabilities
◦ Caliph Umar bin Abdul-Aziz (died 720)
conducted a census of the people with
disabilities. He appointed guides and
servants to care for them.
◦ Sultan Qalawun (d 1290) built a hospital
which specialized in treating
psychological disabilities. It provided
peaceful atmosphere with stipends for
the patients.

Action
items to
assist
people with
disabilities
To raise awareness about disabilities and facilitate inclusiveness
for them, we should have regular sermons, seminars
Make community centers and masajid accessible for people
with disabilities
Get to know one person with disability and their family and
offer any assistance possible
Educators should assist students with disabilities to be
integrated in curricula and programs
Employers should look for ways to hire, retain and
accommodate people with disabilities

Action
items
Create
Create summer programs to increase awareness
among the youth
Contact
Contact “EquallyAble.org” to renew building plans for new
constructions or renovations to make sure they meet accessibility
guidelines.
Form
Form support groups in families with disabilities and
others to share and learn together
Build
Build institutions and initiate policy changes to ensure a
dignified life and equal opportunities for people with
disabilities
Create
Create disability funds to support the families with
disabled members when they need it.

Action
items
Train our youth on improving inclusion and disability awareness and be
the champions of change
Provide ASL interpreters at all events whether disability related or not
Seek best people from the community to act as champions to lead
inclusion and disability awareness
Set goals at each center to become disability friendly and push more
involvement of the executive body and the leadership
Host event to improve inclusion
Organizations which can help to in this task are : EquallyAble,
Enabled Muslims and Muhsen.

Disabilities islamic perspective

Disabilities islamic perspective

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Disabilities islamic perspective