Honorable Muslims!
In the verse I have recited, our Lord Almighty (swt) states, “We have certainly created man in the best of stature.”[１]
Yes, my dear brothers and sisters! The human being is the noblest of all creatures. Of all created beings, human beings are the most noble and wonderful.
In this life, where we are created for a purpose, being handicapped or disabled does not imply any defect or fault, just as not having any impairments or being non-handicapped does not imply superiority over others. What matters is that our souls and hearts remain unimpaired. In this respect, the Prophet Muhammad (saw) says, “Allah does not look at your figures, nor at your attire, but He looks at your hearts.”[２]
Dear Muslims!
The Messenger of Allah (saw) would esteem and devote particular attention to people with disabilities. He (saw) advised us that if handled with patience and calm, having disabilities may serve as a pathway to heaven.[３] He (saw) would appoint people with disabilities to significant positions such as teacher, muadhdhin, and acting governor while he was out of Madinah.
Dear Believers!
Today, it is incumbent upon every one of us to demonstrate a proper understanding of and respect for our brothers and sisters with disabilities. We should share their problems and make their lives easier. We should also use all possible measures to enable them to make full use of all available resources. It is also required that we avoid words that may sadden them and acts that may complicate their lives. I would like to conclude this Friday’s khutbah with the following advice of the Prophet Muhammad (saw): “Guiding a visually-impaired person is sadaqah. Assisting a weak person is sadaqah. Helping a person with speech impairment to explain themselves is sadaqah.”[４]
[１] Tin, 95/4.
[２] Muslim, Birr, 33.
[３] Bukhari, Marda, 7.
[４] Ibn Hanbal, V, 152.
FRIDAY KHUTBA OF TOKYO CAMİİ “OVERCOMING DISABILITIES TOGETHER WITH LOVE“.(PDF)