Post by Abu Idris on Feb 20, 2015 18:06:35 GMT
Does the Sharīʿah discriminate between the able and the disabled?
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Welcome With Open Arms?
by [Mawlana] Shahin-ur Rahman
A child achieves full marks in a SPAG test at school. Another is voted ‘man of the match’ and is the cause of victory for the school team. One can imagine the attention such children would attract. Let us suppose, however, a third child was disabled; does his disability really make him unworthy of the same privilege?
It is quite unfortunate – and very embarrassing – that materialistic progress is considered the sole and only achievement, completely overlooking the virtues and lofty status of the weaker ones among us. Imām al-Bukhārī ؒ has reported a ḥadīth in his Ṣaḥīḥ that the Prophet of Allāh ﷺ has said:
“You gain neither victory nor livelihood except through [the blessings and invocations of] the weak among you.”[1]
It can generally be noticed that when such an individual is encountered with, he/she becomes the ‘butt’ of all jokes. Islām has abolished such behaviour and granted respect and honour to each of its adherents.
A comment was once made to the Prophet ﷺ regarding his wife, Ṣafiyyah ؓ, who was petite in nature. He ﷺ replied:
“You have made such a statement that if it were to be mixed in the water of the ocean, it would pollute the water!”[2]
The Prophet ﷺ also said:
“The blood, honour and property of a Muslim are sacred to another Muslim.”[3]
These are just two of the many sacred texts affirming mutual respect amongst all members of the community. But what is Islām’s position with regard to employment; does it discriminate between individuals upon whom different fortunes have been destined?
All the major books of Ḥadīth, Tafsīr and Sīrah have recorded the fact that one of the two muʾadhdhins of al-Masjid al-Nabawī, ʿAbdullāh Ibn Umm Maktūm ؓ, was visually impaired. Despite being blind, the Prophet ﷺ did not consider his disability to be a hindrance in calling to Ṣalāh.
The Holy Qurʾān informs us of the previous nations; Sayyidunā Mūsā had a secure means of employment, working for his father-in-law in Madyan (Midian) for a decade.
“He (the father) said (to Mūsā): ‘I wish to marry to you one of these two daughters of mine, on condition that you act as my employee for eight years. If you then complete ten (years), it will be of your own accord. I do not want to put you in any trouble; you will find me, InShāʾAllāh (God-willing), one of the righteous.’”[4]
Let us not forget what the ʿUlamāʾ of Tafsīr have written in their commentaries of Sūrah ṬāHā, under the āyahs:
“He said: ‘My Lord, put my heart at peace for me, make my task easy for me and remove the knot from my tongue so that they may understand my speech.’”[5]
This passage is indicating to a speech impediment, evident from Firʿawn’s remark:
“Or (do you not see that) I am much better than this one (Mūsā) who is worthless and can hardly express himself?”[6]
We can, therefore, conclude that the Sharīʿah does not discriminate between the disabled and the able, provided the disability is no drawback to the job.
When implemented, such teachings of Islām boost the self-esteem of the less-fortunate community, giving them high levels of self-confidence and gratitude. Imām Ibn Kathīr ؒ, in his Tafsīr, relays a dialogue which occurred between Imām Muḥammad Ibn Kaʿb Al-Quraẓī ؒ and a younger man.
Man: You’re a fine man, had it not been for the fact that you mispronounce words and make grammatical errors when reading!
Al-Quraẓī: My nephew, can you understand me when I speak to you?
Man: Yes.
Al-Quraẓī: Mūsā only asked his Rabb to untie the knot on his tongue, just enough for them to fathom his speech.[7]
Let us not forget that mocking individuals for a past sin/crime is completely ḥarām; mocking them for something which is beyond their capacity is pure cruelty and oppression. It is vital to refrain from causing such people to make duʿā’ against us. Rather, we ought to do whatever we can to acquire their noble duʿāʾ in our favour.
Allāh ﷻ declares in the Holy Qurʾān:
“Allāh does not like the evil words to be said openly except from anyone wronged. Allāh is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.”[8]
The Prophet ﷺ has also said:
“Fear the duʿāʾ of the oppressed one; for, indeed, between it and Allāh, there lies no barrier.”[9]
[1] Al-Bukhārī (2896).
[2] Abū Dāwūd (4875) and Al-Tirmidhī (2502)
[3] Muslim (2564).
[4] Al-Qaṣaṣ: 28/27.
[5] ṬāHā: 20/27.
[6] Al-Zukhruf: 43/52.
[7] Tafsīr al-Qurʾān al-ʿAẓīm (by Al-Imām Ibn Kathīr ؒ) under the commentary of [ṬāHā: 20/27].
[8] Al-Nisāʾ: 4/148.
[9] Al-Bukhārī (1496) and Muslim (19).