I linked to this in my latest blog, but I'm not sure how many people wll bother reading that, so you might miss it! I think it's worth a read, so that's why I'm creating this topic to bring it to people's attention, incase I hadn't already. Personally, it gave me an insight into the way disabled people were treated but the Prophet 
and I liked it because it's not something that's discussed a lot and so I learnt something new. 
Prophetic Attitude to DisabilityNot a great deal of information can be found in the life of the Prophet Muhammed or in the Qur’an regarding the issue of disability. But like many other issues within the Islamic tradition, a lot can be drawn from a single prophetic example. With this I have in mind the incident where a blind man asked if he could be exempt from the general obligation of attending congregational prayer at the mosque, and pray at home instead due to his disability. Now, given the endless examples of the Prophet’s leniency, gentleness, and patience with all members of his community – especially towards the old, sick, and the needy, one would reasonably expect that the Prophet would have permitted the exemption. However, the tradition goes on to tell us that the Prophet turned down the blind man’s request and encouraged him to attend like everyone else. To some, this may seem a little harsh, but a little insight into social disability theory offers an alternative understanding.
According to sociologist Victor Finkelstein (1980), western attitudes to disability have shifted through three major phases over time. The first phase is said to have existed prior to the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century, where those with disabilities were neither segregated from society nor viewed as socially incapable. Instead, they were part of a lower social class along with paupers and the mentally ill who took on the ‘profession’ of begging. Finkelstein claims that negative attitudes towards such people with disabilities were not exclusive to them. Rather, they were seen to be as much to blame for not working as able-bodied poor people due to their own sins, laziness, or the sins of their parents. It was only when society began to distinguish between the able-bodied poor on the one hand, and individuals with disabilities on the other that attitudes between them became distinct. This marks the beginning of phase two – the institutional phase. With the growth of medical institutions and asylums in the 19th century, more and more emphasis was put on ‘caring’ for people with disabilities. What followed was a long and continuous process of physically segregating such people into asylums and special care, removing them from general social engagement and hiding them from the eyes of the public. A new passive identity of ‘otherness’ was thus being constructed for them, largely characterised by weakness and dependence. This paved the way for what disability theorist Mike Oliver has called the ‘personal tragedy theory of disability’ (Oliver: 1990). The rise and emphasis of hospital environments facilitated the rapid increase in the number of nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers, counsellors, asylums, and charitable homes which, despite their apparent noble intent, only ensured the success of further segregating people with disabilities from society, and contributed heavily to their stigmatisation as alienated ‘objects of research and help’.
Read the rest here http://commentmideast.com/2011/10/attitudes-disability-islam-west-middle...
noooooooo........... i got so into it and then:
"read the reat at.."
good one TPOS, good one (Y)
Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?
very interesting. so how do we tell middle east muslim countries that they shld waste their money on building institutions but shld use it instead on bulding ramps/ wider corridors etc...
how do we bring the muslims countries back to the prophet sallallahu'alaihiwassalam? how do we get our voices heard?
today i was i ntehbus and the ramp wasnt coming out for the lady in the wheelchair to come out, in the end 2/3 people picked up the wheelchair and put it on the pavement. that was pretty cool mashaaAllah.
i disagree with Yahye though, i dont think people in UK have striked teh right balanced between leaving people's independance and offering assistance. i dont know though..wld have to look into more than one case to work that one out.
i wonder how they treat disabled people in muslim countries. i know the article mentionned somthing abt if you're disabled and alone then that usually put across that you're being neglected - but so what if people think that?
...and because of that attitude, most disabled people are accompanied by a family member - whats the problem with that?
if, because of that attitude, disabled people are going to stay home and hide then nothing isnt ever going to change. if a wheelchair bound person goes out on their own/ or with a family member and shows the people they meet that day that they are perfectly fine, then all those people they met..they're view will change and slowly slowly inshaaAllah that attitude will disappear.
its going to take a while though, coz that institution phase is set deep within us. we all feel "sorry" for wheelchair buond people. and i have to admit i was a bit a lot shocked when i read the story of the blind man and the prophet sallallahualaihiwassalaam telling him to come to jamaat.
Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?
Interesting read..
A thought popped into my head - i remember when i went to Saudi Arabia many years back, and whilst i would walk the streets of Makkah, i would see men without feet or arms. I was quite alarmed when i saw them, and i was surprised by the sheer number of them. You wouldn't see just one every evening, you'd see several throughout the day. It was just so common and it doesn't come as a surprise that they were asking for money from the foreigners.
Someone once told me, (and i don't know how reliable this is) that although there are people who've had traumatic experiences leading to the loss of limbs, there were some from low income families, whose parents would chop their limbs whilst they were children, just so that when they grow up, they could beg for money and expect to get it, and atleast have some money to have the basic requirements they need. I thought it’s very very unnecessary to deliberately make yourself disabled when limbs are a blessing from Allah. It just doesn’t sound very rational to me…Why oh why oh why?!
I would agree with you though, in saying that there perhaps isn't as much help as there should be. But I'm thinking it illness and disability in general. I was having a discussion about autusim, and someone said the media doesn't focus much on it because they don't like to focus on illnesses and just kind of things that aren't "normal". I think disability fits into that too, it's not really talked about, I don't think. It just is, what it is. And since the media is central to public opinion, information etc it doesn't help people in that sense. What I mean is the media is one example of how disability is kinda ignored. I think it can be awkward being around a disabled person because I don't really know how to react to them. I'd obviously help them if/when I can but I don't want to offend them.
Well, that is problem with the *attitude*, I guess it is partly due to the caring about other people's opinions which means they are the way they are. Well, not every one may have someone is always able to take of them all the time, and take them out or whatever when they need. Also, I kinda mentioned before, but some people don't want the help. They feel they can do things for themselves and they may not want to have everyone always taking care of them. Me too, but the wisdom behind it made me smile"How many people find fault in what they're reading and the fault is in their own understanding" Al Mutanabbi
I saw a documentary on beggars who pretended to be blind and such, once! I think I've heard of this purposefully chopping limbs off too, but yh, I don't know how true it is. Very sad, if it is true, especially if it's the case of most such beggars. I mean it being the norm, not the exception.
"How many people find fault in what they're reading and the fault is in their own understanding" Al Mutanabbi
what is extremely sad is that the parents had NO right to do that to their kids!
yes the wisdom of the prophet sallallahu'alaihiwassalam really impressed it, it was awesome mashaaAllah!
and yes its true...we dont interact with disabled or ill people much. even in school, they might come to class a little bit but it ends up being a patronizing relationship. and most of the time they're in the Special Needs department. and i always feel extremely awkward around blind or wheelchair bound people. its just...the possibility that they might turn around adn lash out at you coz you offered to help...
but myself being so slight, i cant often offer help, like the old lady taking her trolley down/up the stairs, i want to help but i cant! coz i wouldnt be able to lift it LOL, in these situations you just wanna grab a male and tell him to do it LOL
Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?
I was wheelchair bound and used crutches for a few months when I was in late primary about 9yrs old. I loved all the attention I got from family and strangers, mainly because I was a middle child amongst a large family and to be honest I always felt like I never received much attention compared to my older siblings. I was put in a different school with kids who had physical disabilities short term like me or long term. I can still remember seeing a particular child using a computer that spoke to him. I thought it was the most amazing thing ever, course the kid was blind. Before this I had never come into contact with people with disabilities. Amongst my memories my time in this school was one I fondly remember.
But the not so good memories came from local Asians perceptions of me. They would come to see me not out of concern but pity for my mother. I mean who was going to marry her daughter she had a broken leg, which may mend but hey the stigma of being broken in the first place meant She was damaged goods, bad marriage material! Even after my leg was completely healed I could have been 20 or 25 still locals would say to my mum 'didn't your daughter break her leg when she was younger, can she still walk' to be honest I wold mutter a swear under my breath, they would then watch me as I walked in the room with tea and samosas to see if I hobbled lool. All the time I was thinking very wickidly drink up the tea please choke lol.
Even now the same thing occurs.my opinion of Asians is they are light years away in altering their attitudes towards people with disabilities, that includes mental health problems. For lack of a better word the indigenous white people are a lot more accepting and understanding, but even they have a long way to go. I know if I was permanently disabled I think I could live a better quality life in the uk, where I could even be employed, rather than somewhere like Pakistan. Bangladesh or India. I don't know anything about middle eastern attitudes, I know their racism towards indopak workers, so I'd be surprised if they treated people with disabilities any better.
“O my people! Truly, this life of the world is nothing but a (quick passing) enjoyment, and verily, the hereafter that is the home that will remain forever.” [Ghafir : 39]
Yeh, exactly. I think it'd be better if those with special needs would be put in normal classrooms a little bit more - obviously as long as they're not being harmed by being there. I think more exposure would benefit both groups of people, by creating a better understanding of one another. Also, once they get out of school, they will probably have to deal with the real life and it will be easier if they were exposed to it, to some extent, at first.
:O I'd like to think not all Asians are like that. Well I think they do pity, but there's sympathy too, not just all about marriage etc. Atleast that's what I think I've witnessed. Lol at your thoughts when giving tea - surprised you didn't spit in it
I know if I was permanently disabled I think I could live a better quality life in the uk, where I could even be employed, rather than somewhere like Pakistan. Bangladesh or India. I don't know anything about middle eastern attitudes Agreed.
"How many people find fault in what they're reading and the fault is in their own understanding" Al Mutanabbi