Salaah for deaf and mute individuals
Question
I have a niece and nephew who are mute and baligh. How should they pray salaah?
Answer
Salaah of a Mute person
In principle, a mute person will perform Salaah in accordance with their ability and capacity of fulfilling the obligation of Salaah.
A mute person will fulfil their Salaah simply by performing the postures of Salaah as is normally done. The recitation of Qiraat and the various other recitations in Salaah will not be required of them. It is Mustahab (preferable) for them to move their tongues assimilating recitation if they can. (Namaaz ke Masaa’il Ka Encyclopaedia 3/362-363)
Salaah of a Deaf person
The same ruling as above applies to a deaf person.
However, if a deaf person can recite the required Qira’ah for Salaah then that will be compulsory. If they are unable to recite the minimum required Qira’ah for Salaah then they will recite whatever amount they can. If they can recite the Takbeer-e-Tahreemah (the first Takbeer through which one begins his Salaah), the Tashahhud and the end Salaam, they will be required to do so as well. (Namaaz ke Masaa’il Ka Encyclopaedia 1/236)
Note: Sign language has become a common means of communication with people who have such disabilities. This can be used to teach them about Islam and its injunctions.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best
Fatawa SA is an independent, read-only index of fatawa already published by Jamiatul Ulama KZN. It is not a fatwa service. For your own situation, ask the issuing Darul Ifta directly.