The group of Deaf people sometimes do not get the Islamic education from their schools and their homes. Many of my friends who are Deaf have recounted their experiences to me regarding their education and how they feel about Islam. Most Deaf Muslims feel that they have not received an adequate education regarding Islam. They feel they are missing out in vast and they do not know much. Their parents tell them, they are Deaf and The Almighty understands that they will not be able to understand the studies of Islam. Frankly, the parents of Deaf children are ignorant and probably are not willing to learn Sign Language in order to communicate with their deaf children. Often, Muslim parents and teachers mistakenly assume that the concepts of Islam, the teaching of the Quraan and in Arabic (those who are from non-Arabic speaking countries) are too complicated for the Deaf to understand. Ironically, the Deaf Muslim is encouraged to learn the language of English, drama, sports, dancing, etc. They excel in school performance as a western category. The parents who have hearing and deaf kids as combination, the parents do not have the belief and confidence to raise their deaf kids islamically. The Deaf children grow up without understanding why that they cannot do some things that non-Muslims do, why they have to pray in a prostrating position, why they have to wear hijab. Many do not even understand or know the word as Salaat or Zakaat. They do not understand the Imam is saying during the Friday congregation. The myth from the hearing parents, folks, Imams that Allah understands that the Deaf are unable to hear and they can pray in their own ways so Allah will surely accept their salaah; in my argument, will Allah accept their Salaah whilst the Deaf people are consuming the haraam meals or attending to the casino???
In front of my sadness eyes and my guilty heart, there are several Deaf people who were Muslim and converted to Christianity or other religions, mostly because many Christian churches provide Sign Language Interpreters, while all mosques as well as the Islamic institutions do not offer interpreters for any Deaf Muslims. Many Deaf brothers do not attend the required Friday prayers especially for that reason and they feel oppressed that they do not understand the Imam. Not only that, several deaf people are married to non-Muslim people and follow the way of their non-Muslim in laws. Because the majority of non muslim people have the free will of learning and knowing sign language except the hearing Muslim community. The Muslim Ummah feel that Deaf people are the burden and are being looked down. They are forgetting that Deaf people are Allah;s creations and should be treated with respect, love, and acceptance and live in harmony.
Some of the Deaf people attend Islamic intuitions have experienced that they are not satisfied with the ways of teaching and gained the wrong impression of Islam which is a very boring religion. The schools do not teach them or not enough about Islam and Arabic. I totally disagree that we are the one Muslim ummah because the Deaf Muslims are being neglected! The Imams, maulana, APA, teachers, parents, brothers, sisters, husbands, and wives should learn sign language and provide the services for the deaf Muslims in any possible way!
The truth is that Deaf people ARE capable of learning Islam and the importance of pillars of Islam. I strongly believe the Deaf people should be qualified to teach the Deaf students because they use the same language which is Sign Language and they understand each other very well.
Interviewing: What was your educational experience when growing up? What kind of Islamic education did you get? How do you feel about your experiences?
I am 35 years old.I was born Deaf Muslim male and attended school for the Deaf. While I grew up, I knew nothing of Islam and what Islam is. During my teenage years, I did not know anything about salaah nor did I know the meaning of salaah. Five pillars which I heard rarely but did not understand the importance of pillars of Islam. My parents did not know and do not know Sign Language. My ex-school never spoke of any religion. I learned that the 5 pillars of Islam are important yet do not know the importance of pillars well
I was born Deaf Muslim female, I am 34 years old. While growing up, I never learned nor have been informed a single word of Islam. My family do not know Sign Language as they are very embarrassed. When my mother goes for salaah, I watched her prostrating and so I decided to follow her postures of Salaah. Although I do not know the importance of salaah and other pillars of Islam, I only know what to eat which is halaal and avoid which is haraam. My ex-school never spoke of religion. No, I do not know what Hijab is but I only know the 5 pillars of Islam and the Arabic of each alphabeticals. I believe Deaf people are capable to learn as much as possible just like the hearing people do. I feel there is a lot to learn about Islam. The Muslim people should learn Sign Language properly in order to communicate with the Deaf people
I am 22 years old, born Deaf Muslim female. I only learned about Islam when I was 18 years old for 4 years at the Islamic Institution. My parents were too embarrassed to learn sign language and while growing up, I was not given a chance to study Islam. I did not know the meaning of Salaah or the importance of prayer.The hearing people should bear in mind that the Deaf people are able to study Islam and should be fluent in Sign Language. They must believe that Deaf people have the capability to learn Islam as much as the hearing people do. There is nothing wrong with me mentally except I cannot hear. I think I did not learn enough about Islam and my knowledge is very little. My experience of growing up is not a good one and I am a very lonely person.
I am a 13 years old, born Deaf Muslim girl. I can lipread my family only. I prefer Sign Language because it helps to make communication better and easier. I think that hearing people should learn Sign Language. My family educates me about Islam yet I have very little knowledge. I do not know a single word of Arabic. I do not understand the 5 pillars of Islam! I do not have one hearing Muslim friend. I have a lonely world even when I am at the wedding, Islamic occasion, etc. My message to hearing muslim people that they must learn sign language and socialize with Deaf muslim people in order to live in harmony. Deaf people need you! We are also Allah;s creations.
Zohra Moosa (Deaf Poet/Author)
(I found internet about it is so true and muslim are deaf.)
