Deen Talk! Islam and Disability

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ

Assalaamu alaikum everyone! This blog focuses on Islam and physical disability, including invisible illnesses such as fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, or lupus. This is a really important topic to me, as a young adult who is physically disabled. I don't really take pictures showing my cane (or currently, crutches), but I do struggle every day with my mobility, and this has affected my prayer. 

Probably the largest issue Muslims with disability face in our daily life is the issue of Salat. How does one pray when they can't stand, or bend over, or even make wudhu? This was my biggest concern upon reverting to Islam. At first I was able to pray standing, but my physical health continued to get worse which made it quite difficult. Alhamdulillah I had previously found information on how to pray sitting. And when it became even more difficult, where there were days I could not even get out of bed, my Imam and other friends and scholars were there to help me and answer my questions. 

Ibn Qudaamah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: If standing will make a sick person’s sickness worse, then he should pray sitting. The scholars are unanimously agreed that a person who cannot stand may pray sitting. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to ‘Imraan ibn Husayn: “Pray standing; if you cannot, then sitting; and if you cannot, then lying on your side.” 

It was also narrated by al-Bukhaari, Abu Dawood and al-Nasaa’i, who added: “If you cannot, then lying on your back, and Allaah does not burden any soul beyond its scope.”

It is also narrated that if one feels that standing would increase sickness, delay recovery, or it will be too difficult for him to stand, then he can pray sitting down. 

If one is unable to stand to make wudhu (or even for able-bodied persons finding themselves in a place without water to make wudhu for prayer), then it is permissible for him to make tayamum. Tayamum is taking something from the earth (rock, sand, dirt, even wood) and using it to attain a state of ritual purity before prayer. Some scholars say you can use anything from the earth, while others say it must leave a sort of residue on the hands prior to you shaking or brushing them off. 

I keep a stone humidifier near me in order to make tayamum, either in the mornings if I cannot stand to walk to make wudhu, or during the day now since I am on crutches and walking to the bathroom or kitchen is difficult and I can't bend or lift my leg (or stand on my right leg) in order to complete wudhu. Some keep a small box or plate with sand or dirt inside. If I find myself without my stone to make tayamum, I have used wood or the wall (since it's made of plaster which is a sort of dirt or rock powder), but I prefer to use the stone as I can feel a slight residue when using it. 

Another concern I had upon becoming Muslim was that my cane or other walking aid might be considered as having najis (impurity) and therefore not allowed inside the musalah. Alhamdulillah, I was informed this was not the case, even if we must remove shoes to enter the musalah for prayer. Canes, walkers, crutches, and wheel chairs are all allowed within the musalah, from what I have been informed and seen within the mosques near me. However, I have seen that those who are disabled and require a support dog have been asked to leave their dog outside (not at any of my masjids but I have seen this response on certain Islamic websites which I have seen and been warned have some questionable responses). If you have a support dog, I would speak with your Imam and explain that this is a working dog, it is not going to go to the bathroom inside or bark or otherwise distract people during prayer. Dogs are NOT haraam (that will be another post), but many madhabs do consider dog saliva is najis. I would explain that a) this dog is a medical necessity for you, be it to warn you about an oncoming seizure, as a walking aid, seeing-eye dog, reminder for medicines, PTSD, etc. b) the dog cannot be kept outside ethically and should not be, as extreme weather is dangerous for the dog and it also exposes the dog to dangers such being taken by someone as the dog is not being watched and protected, nor is it inside a fenced area. 

In shaa Allah this has helped people to understand and broach the subject of disability in Islam. Please if you have any questions or you want to see a specific subject discussed, let me know!

Jazakum Allahu khairan!

Sajida.

Me lately. Woooo...