Monday 10 December 2012

PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AND ISLAM IN CANADA


Don’t Judge Exceptional People as Outsiders
A glimpse into Islam’s view people with special needs


By Shaikh Habeeb Alli



“Whoever helps a Muslim in this world, God/Allah will help him in the Hereafter". Prophet Muhammad


In an episode of Little Mosque on the Prairie, a candidly-humorous sitcom about a community of Muslims living in a small town in the Canadian Prairies, a newspaper reporter who uses a wheelchair makes some noise – and justifiably so – about the lack of a ramp to enter the town’s Masjid. Of course, a ramp is built, but in the fanfare of the ribbon-cutting ceremony the reporter gets stuck in the concrete which hasn’t fully hardened yet! The point made was simple: a mosque, like any other public place, must be accessible to those with special needs and it shouldn’t take an article in a local newspaper to move it to the top of management leaders’ agendas. 

Philosophy of acceptance

What does the Islamic teaching offer on the subject of special needs? With the incidence of disability and impairments becoming increasingly prevalent and spanning all racial and ethnic divides, what is our religion’s view about Muslims with exceptionalities? A local worshipper once asked me whether a fellow worshipper who is deaf would merit entering heaven, since he could not hear the Imam’s sermon despite his undaunted attendance. In fact, all people with special needs have a place in heaven, as the pen of accountability has been lifted from those who have cognitive and physical impairments, where the observance of religious duties becomes either unbearable or impossible.

People with special needs are children of ours; these are the members of our households and communities. They must feel as comfortable as any other in our midst. In a party the “odd” individual feels alienated. Life is a continuous party and no one should stop another from dancing to the music of love and affection, belonging and contributing. Being an exceptional person does not warrant pity but rather accommodation and respect of the skills he or she brings. One of my teachers, NaBina Hafiz Saheb of Deoband, as he was popularly known, had a visual impairment but nevertheless succeeded in teaching numerous students the art of recital and explanation of the Holy Quran through Braille. Imam Bukhari, despite being visually impaired at a young age continued traveling and collecting millions of Hadith and finalizing the most authentic book of Hadith (traditions of the Prophet).

The Prophet Moses, highly regarded in Islamic literature and mentioned over 150 times in the Quran is among the model Messengers of Allah. Muslims learned about his “tongue-tying impediment” through his conversations with the unparalleled tyrant, Pharaoh. He continued to be God’s chosen messenger despite his personal fears around his ability to communicate effectively as a leader. As a matter of fact, this Biblical and Quranic story of Moses underscores that those with special needs are not to be pitied and looked down upon, but helped, and their skills recognized. It also carries the rich moral that those affected must never be ashamed to seek assistance and support. Moses said to Allah, “Send Aaron as my aide,” Q 20:29-30 “…and appoint for me, out of my kinsfolk, one who will help me to bear my burden Aaron, my brother.”

On a personal level, no exceptional person serves as a greater model of courage than Julaybib, a companion of The Prophet, who lived 1400 years ago. Having been born with dwarfism and extremely dark skin, he was discriminated against because of his physical appearance.  Although his stature did not compromise his ability to fight courageously in battles, marriage was impossibility, since people tended to steer away from him. But the Prophet believed in Julaybib and recommended him to a girl in Madina. Although the girl’s parents opposed the idea, she retorted, “Who are you stop to me from marrying a man the Prophet himself recommended?” And so she married him, but tragically, soon lost him when he died in battle. Julaybib’s death largely went unnoticed, with the exception of the Prophet, who mourned his passing and said of the little hero: "He is of me and I am of him."  It was then that members of Julaybib’s community recognized his true worth and value.

One of my regular congregants, Azeem Qayum of Scarborough, Ontario, published a book about his youth, when he had a severe respiratory condition. He chronicles bravely and articulately how Allah inspired him to keep going, visiting his mosque at regular occasions and doing his best at school despite the illnesses’ lengthiness. He learned, practiced and taught patience and courage, setting an example for others with challenges to follow.

Imams’ current views

According to Imam Roshan Ally, a popular Scholar of South Florida, “While it’s not obligatory for people with disabilities to attend mosque in order to pray, it has become very necessary that whenever they choose to, there must be some facility to accommodate them. The Holy Prophet did not only accommodate Abdullah bin Makhtoom, who was blind, by leading him to the mosque, but honored him by making him the official muezzin (caller of the prayers). An entire Sura (chapter of the Quran) was revealed honoring this person of special visual needs.”

Shaikh Hassan Hamad of the Pickering Mosque, in Ontario, has observed that a growing number of Muslims with cognitive disabilities have been frequenting his mosque in recent years in search of social and health relief. Although many are referred to support services outside of the Muslim community, according to young approachable Canadian Imam it is paramount that Muslims with disabilities be embraced from within. The Quran relates that in the time of the Prophet, a woman with cognitive challenges requested to speak with him. He invited her to meet in a public place in Madina, rather than hold the encounter in the mosque or her home. The Prophet did this explicitly to teach that public institutions that cater to exceptional people should not only be supported, but also visited, without any taboo or cultural insensitivity.

Organizations

The Moeen Centre[1] is a non-profit organization based in Toronto for people with physical and intellectual disabilities. It does an amazing job of supporting clients in the areas of social networking, education and financial assistance, despite its own limited resources. The Centre operates on the premise that “Every human being is likely to experience disability in one’s lifetime.” The concept of “Judge not, for you’ll be judged,” is a Quranic principle found in 2:141 “That was a people that have passed away. They shall reap the fruit of what they did, and you of what you do! Of their merits there is no question in your case.”

The Moeen centre was established in 1996 in memory of Moeen Alam, a young adult with physical and developmental disabilities, who lost his life in a tragic house fire in December, 1995. His mother, Qaisar Alam, has since relentlessly made efforts to keep the memory of her young son alive, by ensuring the provision of day-programs for young adults with disabilities dedicated to improving their communication and mobility skills and encouraging them to reach their full potential.

Rabia Khedr is a Pakistani-Canadian, who resides in Toronto. She co-founded the Canadian Association of Muslims with Disabilities (CAMD)[2] which strives to ensure that persons with disabilities have access to spiritual and social activities and events in their places of worship. “Currently, Muslims who are deaf or hard of hearing have no access to learn how to read the Quran or take part in any Islamic study classes,” said Rabia. Among her organization’s goals is to make the Quran available in Braille for Muslims who are blind. CAMD summarized its values as follows: “We believe that we as all human beings are unique and perfect as created. Our ability and disability experiences are a natural aspect of life. We have the right to be valued, respected and included in society and in our cultural and faith communities.” The Quran paraphrases this in the Equality Verse of Q: 49:13 “Oh Humanity! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things).”

The residential Noor School in South Africa caters exclusively to the needs of visually impaired by providing them with spiritual and religious education, especially memorizing the Quran.  But here in Ontario there is no opportunity for Muslims with intellectual disabilities to learn formally about Islam, outside of their families. The majority of mosques and Islamic centers in the Greater Toronto Area are not even wheelchair accessible.


Muslims with disabilities in the workplaces

Torontonian Sumreen Siddiqui is a Muslim woman who serves as an example for all Muslims, but particularly those with disabilities. Sumreen has a visual impairment and works at the Canadian National Institute for the Blind.  Her quest to find a life partner has been most challenging; something she attributes to potential mates’ inabilities to see her inner beauty. She is also bothered by the fact that her Islamic-intensive weekend-school course materials are not available in Braille on the computer. But despite her challenges, she consistently wears a smile and carries a positive outlook; having made hajj, she frequently travels and is a regular at local Muslim events. The following is a poem I composed a while ago in honour of Sumreen, entitled “Blindness but visually impaired”:
Eyes indeed the doorway of light
Prejudice against the impaired no doubt a pitiable sight
When the world sees for others they only see you their way
It’s like placing sun shades on your own sunny day
But be happy and keep seeing all your beauty
For the eyes of your heart bring a light of eternity
Where walls don’t exist
And the tulips or snowfalls are seen beyond the mist
Your beloved gifts of cornea and pupil are priced
With their sacrifice your other senses are even more realized
But with the All Seer we believe in a place of Eternal Bliss
Where all who sees with the heart are surely His promise
It is through our Faith that we recognize each person is valuable and to never dismiss anyone as lesser. As The Prophet said, “Verily Allah does not look at your bodies and wealth but looks at your hearts and intentions.”

Habeeb Alli originates from Guyana and studied Islam and Journalism formally in India. He moved to Toronto recently and is passionate about Environmental issues, Youths and Interfaith work. Shaikh Habeeb is active in many organizations and delivers the Friday sermon in some major mosques in Toronto. The Imam is also author of ten books, and is Secretary of the Canadian Council of Imams.

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