CHAPTER 3: DISABLED PEOPLE: PART 2
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, took care of their needs:
Anas ibn Maalik reported that a woman had some deficiency in her mind, and she said: “O Messenger of Allah, there is something I need from you.” The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, responded: “O so and so, look to which road you wish to take, so that I can take care of your need [i.e. answer your queries].” Then he stood with her on a busy pathway and took care of her need. (Reported by Muslim (2236).)
An-Nawawi said: “He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, stood with her on a pathway that is occupied and used, and people witnessed them both, yet they could not hear their conversation. This is because her question was something that she did not want others to hear.”
This shows the Prophet’s, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, forbearance, humbleness and patience in taking care of those with special needs.
Allah gently reprimanded him, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, for ignoring the blind man:
One day, the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was addressing a nobleman of Quraysh who he hoped would accept Islam. When he was thus engaged, Ibn Umm Maktoom (a blind Companion who had already previously accepted Islam) approached and began asking the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, about something and was insisting on asking him. The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, wished that he would stop asking at that time, so that he could
speak to that nobleman from Quraysh, just out of keenness and desire that the man becomes guided. So the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, frowned in the face of Ibn Umm Maktoom and turned away from him, and instead went to the other man.
On this occasion, Allah sent down the following verses (which means): «He [i.e. 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.» [Quran: 80-1:10]
Ibn Katheer (a scholar) said: “Allah ordered His Messenger, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, not to confine himself to warning one particular person, rather, to treat everyone equally, regardless if they were noblemen or weak people, poor or rich, masters or slaves, men or women, and young or old.
Allah guides whomever He wills to the straight path, and He has the most profound wisdom, as well as the most irrefutable proof.” (Tafseer Ibn Katheer (4/568).)
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, facilitated things for them and alleviated their hardship:
Zayd ibn Thaabit (a Companion) narrated that the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, dictated the following verse (which means): «Not equal are those believers remaining (at home) and the Mujahideen, [who strive and fight] in the cause of Allah with their wealth and their lives.» [Quran: 4:95] Zayd said: “Then, Ibn Umm Maktoom approached while the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was dictating those words to me and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, if I was able to go on Jihad (fighting for the cause of Allah), I would have gone to fight,’ and he was a blind man.”
Zayd continued, “So Allah revealed verses to His Messenger, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, while his thigh was on my thigh. He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, started receiving revelation, and his thigh became so heavy that I feared it would crush my thigh, then his state was lifted, and Allah sent (what means): «…other than the disabled…» [Quran: 4:95] ” (Reported by Al-Bukhari (2832) and Muslim (1898).)
In order to make things easier for those who have special needs, Allah said: (what means): «There is not upon the blind any guilt or upon the lame any guilt or upon the ill any guilt [for remaining behind]. And whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger, He will admit him to gardens beneath which rivers flow; but whoever turns away, He will punish him with a painful punishment.» [Quran: 48:17]
Thus, Allah lifted the obligation to fight Jihad in the battlefield off them, and did not command them to carry weapons or to go out with an army in Allah’s Path.
If a disabled individual wanted to go out to Jihaad, the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would not prevent them from joining him:
Ashyaakh (a Companion) from the tribe of Banu Salamah reported that `Amr ibn Al-Jamooh (another Companion) was a crippled man who suffered from severe disability. He had four sons, each of them was like a lion (i.e. very brave), and they used to participate in various battles with the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
On the day of Uhud, they wanted to prevent him from going, and they said to him, “Allah has excused you from going.”
He went to the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and said: “My sons are trying to prevent me from partaking on this battle and going out with you to participate in it. By Allah, I hope to enter Paradise despite my crippledness.”
The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, responded, saying: “As for you, Allah has excused you; there is no Jihad obligatory on you.” Then he, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said to his sons: “Do not prevent him, perhaps Allah will bless him with martyrdom.”
So `Amr ibn Al-Jamooh went out and fought, and was killed the day of Uhud. (Reported by Ibn Is-Haaq in his book As-Seerah, as mentioned by Ibn Hishaam in his book As-Seerah An-Nabawiyyah (4/40).)
Abu Qatadah (a Companion) said: “`Amr ibn Al-Jamooh went to the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, if I fight in Allah’s path until I am killed, would I walk in Paradise on this leg while it is healthy?” His leg was crippled. The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, responded: ‘Yes.’
He, his nephew, and a servant of theirs were killed on the day of Uhud. The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, passed by him and said: ‘It is as if I am looking at you walking in Paradise with your leg healthy.’” (Reported by Ahmad (22606).)
Allah urged socializing with them in order to soothe their hearts:
If people avoid disabled individuals and do not interact with them by eating and drinking with them, and generally interacting with them, they will be affected psychologically. This is why Allah urged interaction with them, Saying (what means): «There is not upon the blind [any] constraint nor upon the lame constraint nor upon the ill constraint nor upon yourselves when you eat from your [own] houses or the houses of your fathers or the houses of your mothers or the houses of your brothers or the houses of your sisters or the houses of your father’s brothers or the houses of your father’s sisters or the houses of your mother’s brothers or the houses of your mother’s sisters or [from houses] whose keys you possess or [from the house] of your friend. There is no blame upon you whether you eat together or separately. But when you enter houses, give greetings of peace upon each other, a greeting from Allah, blessed and good. Thus does Allah make clear to you the verses [of ordinance] that you may understand.» [Quran: 24:61]
Ibn Jareer (a scholar) said: “Some scholars said that the verse was sent giving permission to Muslims to eat with the blind, crippled, sick, and chronically sick. They had been keeping away from eating with the aforementioned categories of people, out of fear that by eating with them from their food they would be included in the prohibition mentioned in the verse (which means): «O you who have believed, do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly but only [in lawful] business by mutual consent.» [Quran: 4:29]” (Tafseer Ibn Jareer (19/219).)
Adh-Dhahhaak (a scholar) said: “The people of Madinah, before the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was sent, never used to mix and eat with the blind or the sick. Some used to say that they are disgusting and dirty, and others would say that the sick does not take the due of the food fully (or eat fully) just as someone healthy would be able to; a cripple would not be able to compete with the crowd and everyone else at the food; and the blind cannot see the good parts of the food, so Allah The Almighty sent (what means): «There is no blame upon you.» [Quran: 24:61] meaning, there is no constraint with regards to eating with the sick, blind, or cripple.” (Ibid.)
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, gave them some tasks and missions and would put them in positions of authority:
An example of this occurred during the battle of Uhud, when the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, took the counsel of the people regarding the choice of either going outside the city of Madinah to meet the polytheists in battle, or to stay inside the city.
The conclusion was that the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, left the city with one thousand Companions (to fight the polytheists), and he appointed Ibn Umm Maktoom (a blind Companion) to lead prayers for those that remained behind in Madinah. (Reported by ibn Hishaam in his book As-Seerah an-Nabawiyyah (2/63).)
Anas ibn Maalik reported that the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, appointed Ibn Umm Maktoom as in-charge over Madinah twice, and he would lead them in prayer, even though he was blind. (Reported by Abu Dawood (2931) and Ahmad (11935).)
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, appointed Ibn Umm Maktoom to be the one to call the second call to prayer in Ramadan:
During the month of Ramadan, the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, had two people calling the call to prayer. One of them was Bilaal, and he used to call it before the actual time of dawn had come, in order to remind people to finish eating their pre-dawn meal, or for those who were asleep to wake up and catch something to eat before dawn. Ibn Umm Maktoom made the second call when dawn had actually arrived, when people must refrain from eating and drinking.
`Abdullaah ibn `Umar (a Companion) narrated that the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Bilaal gives the call to prayer at night [shortly before dawn], so continue eating and drinking until Ibn Umm Maktoom calls for prayer.”
`Abdullaah continued, “He (Ibn Umm Maktoom) was a blind man and would not call to the prayer until he was told, ‘Dawn has arrived; dawn has arrived.’” (Reported by Al-Bukhari (617) and Muslim (1092).)
`Aa’ishah (the wife of the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Ibn Umm Maktoom used to call for the prayer for the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and he was blind.” (Reported by Muslim (381).)
Look how the talents of the disabled were utilized; despite being a blind man, he was the caller to prayer and led prayers, and used to be the authority over the city at times.
Warning against harming them:
Ibn `Abbas (a Companion and the cousin of the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘The one who curses his father is cursed; the one who curses his mother is cursed; the one who gives a blind man wrong directions and causes him to be lost is cursed (Unfortunately, you find today many foolish youth who mess around with blind people, when a blind person comes and asks them for directions, they tell him to go the opposite way, so that they can laugh at him and make fun of him. In fact, there have been cases where one of them takes the hand of a blind person, out of the presumption of leading the way for them, but actually, they took the blind person to the middle of the street in front of cars. The car drivers would try to draw his attention, while the blind person does not know the danger at hand. The driver too does not know that the individual is actually blind, until in the end he realized that he is in the middle of the road, and they realized that he is actually blind! ) …’” (Reported by Ahmad (1878).)
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, reported that the victory of the Nation will be because of the likes of them:
Sa`d (a Companion) felt that he had a virtue over others who were below him, so the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said to him: “Will you be given victory and sustenance except through the weak among you?” (Reported by Al-Bukhari (2896).)
In another narration narrated by Sa’d ibn Abu Waqqaas (a Companion) that the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Allah will give victory to this Nation through the weak among them; He will give victory through their supplications, prayers and sincerity.” (Reported by An-Nasa’i (3178).)
Abu Ad-Dardaa’ (a Companion) narrated that the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Seek out the weak among you, because you will be granted sustenance and victory through the weak among you [by virtue of their supplication and sincerity].” (Reported by Abu Dawood (2594) and At-Tirmidhi (1702).)
Thus, the presence of the weak, poor, and disabled in Muslim society is a great mercy, for they are a great door to goodness that Allah opens for His slaves. The slaves of Allah compete in being good to and helping disabled people so that the supplication of these people will bring about mercy, victory, and honor for the Muslims.
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, forgave the foolish among them:
The forgiveness of the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, becomes clear when we examine his forbearance, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, when he was on his way with his army, heading towards Uhud. He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, decided to pass through the farm of a hypocrite who was also blind, and his name was Mirba` ibn Qaythiyy
When the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, reached the line of the man’s property, he said to the Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, “O Muhammad, I do not permit you to pass through my land.” And he took a handful of dirt in his hand, and said: “By Allah, if I knew that I would not hit anyone with this dirt besides you, I would have thrown it at you.” Upon hearing this, the people rushed to him in order to kill him.
However, the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Leave him be, for this blind man is blind in the heart and blind from any insight.” (As-Seerah An-Nabawiyyah (2/244) by Ibn Katheer, As-Seerah an-Nabawiyyah (3/57) by Ibn Hishaam and Zaad Al-Ma`aad (3/172) by Ibn Al-Qayyim.)
The Prophet of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, did not order that the man be killed or even harmed, since the Muslim army was on the way to fight, the situation was tense and people were on edge.
However, it is not from the characteristic of Muslim fighters to transgress against anyone, especially those who have disabilities or to harm those who are disabled.
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.