CHAPTER 3: DISABLED PEOPLE: PART 1
The Dealings of the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, with the Disabled
Introduction:
Allah fashioned the creation, and differentiated between them in their bodies, colors, and their various capabilities, just as He has differentiated between them in their appearances and looks.
Some people have been tested by being deprived of some bodily blessings that Allah has given others. Among the many examples are those who have been tested with loss of eyesight, hearing, or the ability to move some part of the body. Someone who has lost some part of their sanity, causing them to be regarded below the level that one would be considered ‘normal,’ could also be given as an example.
No society is free from individuals with disabilities who have been tested to a lesser degree. For example, someone who has lost one eye is less tested than someone who has lost both; and someone who is crippled has been tested to a lesser degree than someone who is paralyzed. In these cases, those that have been tested with a lesser degree of disability should take a lesson from those who have been tested to a higher degree, and the one who is healthy should take all the different people on the spectrum as an example.
Allah has blessed everyone with innumerable blessings, so to Allah is the praise in every situation. Allah Says (what means): «And if you should count the favor [i.e. blessings] of Allah, you could not enumerate them. Indeed, mankind is [generally] most unjust and ungrateful.» [Quran: 14:34]
Allah compensates disabled individuals by granting them blessings in the form of other things. For example, you would find that a blind individual has most likely been given blessings such as superior intelligence, precise memory, and sharp hearing.
Some ignorant people might say, “What is the purpose behind caring for the disabled, treating them well and spending on them?”
The people who subscribe to this mentality are those who do not adhere to what Allah Commanded, nor do they hope for what Allah The Almighty possesses. Actually, this way of thinking is that of someone who is very far from the true meaning of humanity.
As for those who truly believe in Allah and the Last Day, they know that the presence of disabled individuals among us contains great wisdom, as well as a benefit for the one being tested and a reminder for the one who has not been tested.
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, had many dealings with those whom Allah The Almighty had tested with disabilities and chronic illnesses, and he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, had set the best example in the manner he dealt with this class of the community.
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, advised them to be patient and would give them glad tidings of Paradise:
Anas ibn Maalik (a Companion) said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, say: ‘Allah said: ‘If My slave is tested with his two beloved possessions [his eyes; lost his eyesight] and is patient, then I will compensate him for them by granting him Paradise.’” (Reported by Al-Bukhari (5221).)
Ibn Battaal (a scholar) said: “This narration is evidence that Paradise is the reward of patience in the face of trials. Although the blessing of eyesight to a slave is one of the most esteemed blessings, the compensation that Allah gives (i.e. Paradise) is better than the blessing of having eyes in the worldly life. That is because the time period that an individual would enjoy their eyesight will come to the end in the worldly life, and because the time period that one will enjoy it in Paradise is everlasting and never-ending.” (The explanation of Ibn Battaal on the book of Al-Bukhari (9/377).)
Ibn Hajar (a scholar) said:
“The reason that they were called, “his two beloved possessions,” is because they are the two most beloved parts of the body to an individual. The reason they are so beloved is that when they are lost, an individual experiences sorrow at the fact that they cannot
see the good things they wish to see and take delight in that and cannot see something evil (or harmful) in order to avoid it.
When the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “And is patient,” and in another narration: “I only am only satisfied with Paradise as a reward for someone whose two beloved possessions I have taken, and who deals with that with patience and expecting reward.”(Reported by At-Tirmidhi (2325).) The meaning is that the individual should be patient while keeping in mind the reward that Allah has promised to those who are patient. It does not mean to be patient while not keeping that (thought) in one’s mind, because actions are based on intentions.
When Allah tests His slave in the worldly life, it is not always because He is angry with that slave, rather, it might be to keep them away from something evil, to expiate their sins, or to raise their rank and status.
If a slave accepts that with contentedness, then the reason behind that trial will be realized, otherwise, the individual would be as the one who has been defined in the narration of Salmaan (a Companion): “Allah causes the sickness of the believer to be an expiation of their sins; and the sickness of the evildoer is like a camel that has been shackled then allowed to go free, the camel does not know why it was shackled and why it was set free.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari in his book Al-Adab Al-Mufrad (739).)
“The term “Then I will compensate him for them by granting him Paradise,” shows that this is the best compensation possible, because enjoying eyesight ends when life ends, but enjoying Paradise lasts eternally. This reward is applicable to anyone who has been afflicted with the loss of eyesight, as long as the condition mentioned (i.e. persevering patiently) is met.” (Fat-h Al-Baari (10/116).)
Jaabir ibn `Abdullaah (a Companion) said: “The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “When those who were healthy see the reward being given to those who were tested [in their health] on the Day of Resurrection, they would wish that their skins were cut up into pieces with scissors [while they were in this worldly life].” (Reported by At-Tirmidhi (2402).)
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, cared for their feelings, and used appropriate language when referring to them:
Jaabir ibn `Abdullaah said: “The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘Take us to the man with vision who lives in Banu Waaqif so that we can visit him.’ And that man was blind.” (Reported by Al-Bayhaqi in his book As-Sunan Al-Kubra (21372).)
Sufyaan (a Companion) said: “They (Banu Waaqif) were an area where some of the Ansaar used to reside.” (Reported by Al-Bayhaqi in his book Shu`ab Al-Eemaan (9194).)
So the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, used a very gentle term in order to not hurt the man’s feelings.
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, used to try and raise their morale and clarify that people do not compete for superiority based on their bodies:
Ibn Mas’ood (a Companion) narrated that he was climbing an Araak tree in order to get a twig used as a natural toothbrush (Miswak). He had very thin legs, and the wind began to move him left and right, making the people laugh at him. The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “What are you laughing at?” They replied: “O Allah’s Prophet, we are laughing at how skinny his legs are.” The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “I swear by Him in Whose hand is my soul, they will be heavier on the scale than Mount Uhud.” (Reported by Ahmad (3981).)
Thus, the thinness and leanness of ‘Abdullaah ibn Mas’ood did not harm him, because the owner of those two legs has many virtues that make him heavy on the scale, for he was one that combined having a beautiful character and a pure personal life.
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, visited the disabled and honored their requests:
Mahmood ibn Ar-Rabi` Al-Ansaari (a Companion) reported that `It-baan ibn Maalik, one of the Ansaari companions of the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, who also witnessed the Battle of Badr, went to the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and said: “O Messenger of Allah, I am a man who has weak vision, and I lead prayers for my people. If it rains, the valley that comes in between us floods, making me unable to go to their mosque and lead them in prayers. I was hoping, O Messenger of Allah, that you would come and pray in my home, that way I can take it as a viable praying area.”
Prophet Muhammad , sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “I will do so, if Allah wills.”
`Itbaan said: “The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and Abu Bakr [and in the narration of Muslim (a scholar): and whoever willed among the Companions] came early the next day, and asked to enter my home. I granted him permission, and he did not sit on entering the home but asked: ‘Where in your house would you like me to pray?’ I pointed to a part of the house, and he went there, stood, and began his prayers by saying: ‘Allahu Akbar,’ so we stood and lined up for prayers. He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, prayed two units of prayer, then ended it by saying: ‘As-Salamu `Alaykum.’
Then, we stopped him from leaving in order to eat a dish called Khazeerah (a dish made with meat and flour) that we had cooked for him.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari (415) and Muslim (1052).)
By Muhammad Saalih Al-Munajjid
Comments
John Doe
23/3/2019Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
John Doe
23/3/2019Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
John Doe
23/3/2019Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.