What Are the Community’s Fard Kifayah Responsibilities Toward Individuals With Physical or Mental Disabilities?
Question
What is the community’s responsibilities as fard kifayah for individuals with physical and/or mental disabilities?
Answer
Alhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain.
1. The Shar‘i Context
Islam places extraordinary emphasis on the dignity, care, and protection of individuals who have physical or mental disabilities.
Their rights are not merely moral obligations, they are fard kifayah upon the community.
This means that if the community fulfills these duties collectively, the obligation is lifted; if they neglect them, the entire community shares in the sin.
2. Foundational Evidence
Allah describes the believers as protective allies of one another and commands:
“Help one another in righteousness and piety.”
(Surat al-Maidah 5:2)
The Prophet said:
“Each of you is a shepherd, and each will be questioned about his flock.”
(Bukhari and Muslim)
This responsibility naturally includes the most vulnerable members of society.
3. What Fard Kifayah Includes
The community carries collective duties in several essential areas:
A. Basic Living Support
Ensuring individuals with disabilities have:
Food
Housing
Clothing
Access to medical care
Financial assistance
These are not optional acts of charity but communal obligations.
B. Accessibility and Inclusion
Mosques and Islamic institutions must provide reasonable accommodation:
Wheelchair access
Seating accommodations
Assistance during congregational worship
Sign language or simplified communication when possible
Removing hardship for them is part of the communal duty.
C. Education and Religious Access
Ensuring that people with disabilities have access to:
Islamic learning
Qur’an teaching adapted to their ability
Understanding of prayer, purity, and worship suited to their condition
Neglecting them spiritually is a breach of communal responsibility.
D. Protection From Harm and Abuse
The community must be vigilant in:
Protecting disabled individuals from neglect
Preventing financial or emotional exploitation
Ensuring guardianship structures are fair and compassionate
E. Emotional and Social Support
Isolation is a serious harm.
The community must ensure:
Inclusion in gatherings
Emotional support
Respect and honor
Opportunities for participation according to their ability
4. The Usul Principle
ما لا يتم الواجب إلا به فهو واجب
Whatever is needed to fulfill an obligation becomes obligatory.
Since protecting and caring for disabled individuals is a communal duty, any service or structure required to achieve that protection also becomes obligatory upon the community.
Examples:
If a sign-language interpreter is needed for a portion of the community, hiring one becomes part of fard kifayah.
If wheelchair accessibility is required to allow them into the masjid, installing ramps becomes a communal obligation.
5. The Role of Institutions
Islamic centers, charitable organizations, and community leaders bear a special share of responsibility. They must:
Organize programs
Allocate funds
Coordinate volunteers
Ensure no disabled individual is left without support
Final Ruling
Caring for individuals with physical or mental disabilities is a fard kifayah upon the Muslim community.
This includes fulfilling their basic needs, ensuring spiritual access, providing accommodations, protecting them from harm, and integrating them socially.
If a community neglects these duties while having the ability to fulfill them, they collectively share in sin.
And Allah knows best.