Pray for Special Needs and Disabled

As in many places around the world, Muslims who have special needs or disabilities are shunned, marginalized, and discriminated against. Some believe that disabilities exist because of a curse; others think they were created with a disability as a test. Still other Muslims view disabilities neutrally — as neither a blessing nor a curse. Oftentimes the ideals of Islamic teachings regarding disabilities are overshadowed by unkind cultural practices. For many Muslim families, “honor and shame” are foundational forces in daily life. They tend to hide away and dismiss disabled relatives out of a sense of shame.

Wars in Muslim countries create many disabilities, and poverty hinders care. Many countries across the Muslim world simply lack the resources available to help. There are few wheelchairs, special needs schools, individualized education plans, books in braille, medical devices, or handicapped accessible ramps into homes, shops, and mosques.

In an increasingly globalized world, the impact of people who fight for the rights of the disabled now extends into Muslim countries to challenge cultural practices. Even imams are preaching sermons in mosques encouraging their members to consider the needs of those with special needs. Muslims with special needs who emigrate to the West are now benefiting from social services.

Some Muslims believe that Allah creates people with differing abilities and even some with disabilities, as a test in life (Quran 2:155-157). One tradition records that “Allah does not look to your bodies nor to your faces but he looks to your hearts” (Muslim 32:6220).

All Muslims are commanded to take care of “the weak-minded” by providing for them and speaking “words of appropriate kindness” (Quran 4:5). There is no harm or shame in sharing meals with anyone, disabled or not (Quran 24:61). According to Quran 48:16-17, the disabled are exempt from participating in holy war (jihad) and will not be punished if they stay behind during a skirmish. In 49:11, Muslims are instructed never to ridicule anyone for anything. And, a story recorded in 80:1-11 relates that Allah once rebuked Muhammad for dismissing (“frowning at”) and turning his attention away from a blind man. While some Muslim scholars contest who did the frowning, others agree that after being chastised by Allah, Muhammad always greeted this blind man with great kindness.

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. Psalm 139:13-14

Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Exodus 4:11

And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.” John 9:2-3

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; Isaiah 35:5-6

So that the crowd wondered, when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled healthy, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel. Matthew 15:31

The LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous. Psalm 146:8

And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them. Isaiah 42:16

In that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see. Isaiah 29:18

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Luke 4:18-19

the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. Matthew 11:5

And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. Mark 1:40-42

And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” Matthew 9:2

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, epileptics, and paralytics, and he healed them. Matthew 4:24

You shall not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear your God: I am the Lord. Leviticus 19:14

Cursed be anyone who misleads a blind man on the road. Deuteronomy 27:18a

When you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. Luke 14:13-14

Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:3-4

But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? 1 John 3:17