Yadira Thabatah is one of the founding members of Islam By Touch a non-profit organisation that raises awareness and provides resources for the Blind Muslim community.
In life, there is a universal understanding that we will all encounter individuals that are different from ourselves. The world is vast, and so expecting to meet a variety of people is simply par for the course. However, it is our response to these differences that truly matters. Sometimes short-sided actions and comments can be quite detrimental. Lacking awareness cannot be the main driving force behind our behaviours. After all, Islam tells us to seek knowledge so that we may become better Muslims and human beings overall. This rings very true when meeting and interacting with blind individuals. Those of us who are blind understand that you may have never come across a blind person but a little open-mindedness and willingness to learn goes a long way. So, in the spirit of sharing and enabling a better life for everyone, here are a few challenges blind Muslims may experience and some possible solutions for providing equal space for all. Inshallah, you’ll gain a new perspective that will be of benefit.
Living a productive life
Most people have a strong desire to be productive members of society. We want to go out and about and experience life. Whether this may be something as simple as going to work, grabbing a cup of coffee at the local coffee shop, or travelling to new places, we all just want to live a normal day to day life. For those of us that are blind, we must use certain tools to accomplish these tasks. Some of us may choose to use a white cane and others, like myself, may opt for using a guide dog. Unfortunately, the use of guide dogs evokes some very strong feelings and opposition from the Muslim community.
While travelling with our guide dogs, we are not allowed in mosques, places of business, and are even refused entrance into cars being operated as public rideshare services. I personally have dealt with these experiences. I’ve had Muslims panic and literally run away from me when they see me walking with my dog. I have had Uber drivers pull off when I attempt to get in the car for the ride I booked. I’ve had to resort to calling the police because I’ve been denied entrance into stores and restaurants. The struggle is real.
However, these responses are unnecessary. If Muslims would just open their minds, they would learn that Islam makes allowances for working dogs; this includes service dogs. Muslims need to understand that this dog is an extension of the guide dog handler. Without the dog, we have no eyes. We trust these dogs with our very lives. They are highly trained and loyal. Their goal is to ensure our safety. The best thing for anyone, including Muslims to do when encountering a blind person and their guide dog is to actually ignore the dog. Make sure to only interact with the handler. Remember that questions are welcomed if asked respectfully. However, if a blind person chooses to not answer any questions, keep in mind that we are all human. You don’t know how this person’s day has been or what they are facing. Those of us who are blind will inform and interact with you, but we are not your teachable moment. We are people after all.
Marriage
Another shared human desire is that of marriage. Many want to find a partner to share life with. In Islam, it is said that marriage is half our Deen. So, why is it that so many Muslims assume that marriage is completely off the table for those of us who are blind? I wish I could say that this thought doesn’t exist, but my husband and I have dealt with this misconception. When we were going to get married, my husband was asked by some if he considered that it might be better or easier to marry someone who could take care of him or at the very least, drive. Once, my husband and I were eating out, and a perfect stranger felt the need to praise us, call us brave, and declare that what we were doing was amazing. My husband and I were thoroughly confused, and in response to our puzzlement, the woman made sure to let us know that our being married was nothing short of incredible. We both explained that marriage is an everyday occurrence. There’s nothing particularly unique about getting married, so why, as human beings, would it be strange for blind people to get married?
Being parents
While marriage is an aspect of life that many Muslims believe is not achievable for those of us who are blind, parenting is something that is completely unimaginable. My husband and I have four children. We navigate parenthood just as all parents do; with lots of patients, trial and error, and lots of learning. There are some adaptations that we make to facilitate our lives, but they are nothing extraordinary. Quite honestly, it’s very disheartening to have people tell us that we should be grateful to have kids who can take care of us. We’ve had strangers question and outright assume that we have someone living with us to care for our children because, in their minds, we obviously cannot. There are a plethora of reasons as to why anyone may not be able to have children, but blindness isn’t one of them.
We are capable of loving, teaching, guiding, and providing safety for our children. We make meals, do laundry, mend cuts and scrapes, take the kids to their various activities and do all the things that average parents do. Truthfully, I believe that blind parents have an opportunity to do things more creatively and to teach their children to think outside the box. Our children have learned a certain level of empathy and the ability to view people for who they are. My children understand that disability doesn’t define a person and their capabilities. They know that disability is simply just another characteristic of someone’s identity. I believe they’ve gained that insight simply by having blind parents who’ve shown them that we are people just like everyone else.
Family support
Another issue that blind Muslims face is a lack of support and encouragement from their own families. Children who are blind are viewed as burdens who need to be constantly taken care of. They are not taught essential life skills that will enable the blind family member to flourish and lead a productive and fulfilling life. In other instances, families will go out of their way to hide their child’s blindness. They refuse to acknowledge it and some go as far as truly believing that the blindness will be gone with time. I am not discounting Allah’s power and the existence of miracles, but quite frankly, that isn’t a very healthy approach. There’s no shame in being blind. Collectively, as Muslims, it would do us well to remember that Allah doesn’t make mistakes. Often times families get caught up in their own hurt, anger, and confusion and tend to lose sight of how invaluable their support of their blind family member is. For the blind person, lacking a proper support system can make the difference between someone who is confident and vibrant, and someone who is broken and lost. As a blind person, I implore families to embrace and love their blind children enough to grant them respect just as they would anyone else. Let them try new things. Let them climb the jungle gyms or try out for sports. Let them become involved in the arts. Encourage their curiosity and growth and never let your own fears and uncertainties be an obstacle for them.
Education
Speaking of encouraging growth for blind individuals, I must bring forth the issue of education. There is a void when it comes to accessible educational materials for blind students. I understand that providing accessible materials may seem like a daunting task, but it is imperative. Everyone, including blind individuals, has a God-given right to acquire knowledge and to receive and education. In Islam, we are encouraged to seek information and gain understanding. If we are to provide equal opportunity for everyone, access to education has to be a foundational block. This is why my husband and I founded Islam By Touch. After facing the struggle to find any accessible educational materials, we took it upon ourselves to provide a platform where the voice of the Muslim blind community could be heard and to provide equal opportunity to education. If you’re interested in providing accessible materials for the blind or need any resources, reach out to Islam By Touch for information.
Social isolation
Although Islam focuses heavily on community, many blind Muslims feel very isolated. Often times, we are not invited to social gatherings. Yet, when we do attend social events, it is extremely common to find a blind guest sitting in a corner, alone. Very little is made in an attempt at conversation, and quite honestly, the most stimulating conversation we’ll get is to simply ask us if we need to visit the restroom or if we would like someone to prepare a plate of food for us. People become awkward around someone who is blind and seem to forget standard social decorum. The best advice I can offer is to focus on inclusion. Think about how it would feel to be excluded from social interactions. Those of us who are disabled still feel and want to enjoy life. If you simply addressed us as equal human beings, you may find we have lots in common. If you let your own insecurities restrain you, you might lose out on a possibly meaningful friendship.
Along the same lines of social inclusion, we face the issue of a general lack of community support. Most times accommodations are not even a thought. Many times, the community is completely unaware that there is anyone blind amongst them. A stronger effort has to be made by the Muslim community at large to provide support and acceptance for those who are blind and their loved ones. It is up to this incredible community to pull together and follow what Islam has taught us. We are brothers and sisters in Islam and we can ensure our blind community members feel welcome, wanted, and respected by simply talking to us. Make sure to ask if we need help and if so, what kind of help would we like. Provide resources and outlets for blind individuals to acquire what they need so that they may become contributing members of the community. If you do not have the resources, again, reach out to Islam By Touch for assistance.
Blind peoples autonomy
Another challenge blind Muslims face is often being stripped of their autonomy. We are spoken to as if we were children, grabbed, toted along, and placed wherever others feel is best for us. Our voices are not heard and too often, decisions concerning our very lives are rested from us. When help is forced upon us, many able-bodied individuals become extremely offended when we refuse to take it or lose our calm. The truth is, that no one should have to endure being treated as a second-class citizen. Islam tells us that everyone is equal; this includes those of us who are disabled.
I have personally been grabbed by total strangers while attempting to cross a street. I do know how to judge traffic and did not ask for help. I was with my guide dog and I was not lost. It was simply my blindness that emboldened total strangers to put their hands on me and pull me along as if I were a child. I must be honest, I did hit someone on one occasion out of sheer shock and fear. Remember, I cannot see, I am a woman, I was alone, and a strange hand grabbed me. I panicked and responded accordingly. The individual was very angry with me and proceeded to berate me. Said person accused me of being ungrateful for the help they felt I obviously needed. It would be utterly unthinkable to grab an able-bodied random stranger. However, when disability is placed into the equation, the right to autonomy is casually dismissed without a second thought.
The spectrum
This next issue is one that can be broken into two ends of a spectrum. On one side, we face negativity and uncertainty. Anyone who is blind has, at one point in their lives, heard all the things they cannot do. As children, we’ve been told we can’t run, play tag, or climb the play structures at the park. As we grow older, the list of what we cannot do lengthens and we become more exhausted. The frustration of being told we cannot pursue careers, get married, start families or simply go shopping alone becomes unbearable. Many times, this frustration will manifest itself in low self-esteem, isolation, anger, and even depression. When I was younger, I worked with blind students, and too many of them suffered from depression. It wasn’t their disability that leads them to suffer from depression, it was the negative attitudes and lack of support from family, friends, and the community that brought on the frustrations and hopelessness.
On the other end of the spectrum, there is an unrealistic and unhealthy admiration. Blind people are viewed as superheroes simply for stepping out in public and buying groceries. Other times we are all expected to be the next Helen Keller. We are overly praised and are placed on a pedestal that we neither need nor want. In stark contrast to those who tell us that they would simply fall apart if they had to live with blindness, there are those who feel the need to let us know that we are absolutely inspirational. As Muslims, we should keep in mind that balance is key. Blind people are humans just like anyone else. We struggle, make achievements, and live ordinary mundane lives just as everyone does. The healthy approach to take with the blind community is to have realistic expectations led by open-mindedness. Remember that everyone needs help with one task or another. Blind individuals do need adaptive techniques to fulfil daily chores and jobs, but just as all people do, all we need is a little time and patience to learn. Just as everyone else, we just need understanding and respect.
Blindness in it itself is not necessarily so difficult. As long as adaptations are made, we can live full and productive lives. In my opinion, as someone who has lived with blindness since birth, I believe our true challenges stem from living amongst a society that has not quite learned to shift mindsets and prospectives. Many times, fear, confusion, and doubt in our abilities lead able-bodied individuals to act in ways that plant barriers for us. The solution for everyone to enjoy equality, respect, and dignity is simply to treat others as we all would want to be treated. If you come across anyone who is blind or has any disability, simply approach them as you would anyone else. Don’t think of interacting with us with a mind-set of bravery or pity. Don’t think of us as inspiring or helpless. Simply view us through the lens of kindness and decent humanity. You may feel that you are taking steps out of your comfort zone by approaching us, but we are not something to be feared. We are people. When you view us through the scope of inspiration or pity, you strip us of our multidimensional humanity. Just as any able-bodied person can, those who are disabled have the potential to follow careers, be husbands and wives, become parents, travel, volunteer, and live just as able-bodied people do.
You can check out all the latest work being done at Yadira’s organisation by checking out their website. You can also make recurring or one time donations via their website to help support their wonderful work.
