ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Principles of Upbringing Children Chapter 73: Physically Handicapped Children Some children are physically handicapped from birth, others develop infirmities after accidents. There are many physical disabilities like blindness, lameness, deafness, dumbness etc. There are other children, who may not have any physical abnormalities, but they might be abnormally short, fat, with jutting teeth, small and sunken eyes and several such features.

There is no fault of the individuals with these aberrations. Allah has given birth to them, as they are. All the creations have their own beauty, it is our thinking that makes yardsticks for judging good looks. Since the disabled individuals will be conscious of their disability, they will be sad and subject to the feeling of inferiority. If efforts are not made to remove this feeling from their minds, they will always be sad and morose.

With the inferiority complex in him, a person loses his vibrant personality. They start thinking that they are incapable of any good. They will be reluctant to accept responsibilities and come forward to work with alacrity. They literally surrender ignominiously. They might even have access to criminal thoughts as a rebellion against their pitiable condition in the social fabric. The disabled are pitiable. It is the duty of the other members of the society to put such handicapped persons at ease.

They should give them the same treatment as they give to any normal person. They should not make them conscious of their defect through any overt or covert act. Some people cut practical jokes on the handicapped persons making their defect a matter of ridicule. This will be like piercing their hearts with arrows. Islam strictly prohibits laughing about the physical defects of others. This attitude is counted amongst the major sins a person can commit.

There is order for so much care in this matter that the believers are required not even to do anything that can slightly remind the handicapped person of his defect. The Prophet of Islam has said: "Don’t stare at people under distress and at the lepers, lest your looks provoke the feelings of sadness and shame in their hearts."[^1] It is the responsibility of Muslims to show more attention and care to such persons with a view to ameliorate their feelings of sadness.

They must encourage the handicapped to lead as normal a life as possible. The parents of handicapped children carry an onerous responsibility.