Inspiring Stories of People with Disabilities in Islam
The early Muslim community offered unique
examples of people with disabilities who set remarkable standards of sacrifice
and contribution. Among them was the noble Companion, Amr ibn Al-Jamuh, who
said to the Prophet (peace be upon him): “O Messenger of
Allah, will I walk in Paradise with these two feet?”, and his foot
was crippled. The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied: “Yes.” And when he passed by him,
he said: “It seems to me that I see you walking in Paradise with these two feet.” (Narrated
by Ahmad).
From this starting point, where the Shari`ah
magnified the capabilities of people of determination, Al-Mujtama
highlights examples of distinguished figures for whom disability was never a
barrier or crisis, but rather a rock upon which every obstacle was shattered.
Kuwaiti Diver Faisal Al-Mousawi
In Kuwait, diver Faisal Al-Mousawi achieved
an accomplishment for himself and for people with special needs by securing a
place in the Guinness World Records for the fastest horizontal scuba dive over
a distance of 10 kilometers, completed in 5 hours and 24 minutes.
His life was turned upside down
unexpectedly when, in 2005 at the age of twenty, he suffered a car accident
that broke his spine and resulted in paralysis of his lower limbs.
With determination, persistence, and
relentless effort, he transformed his fear of the sea into love, and his
failure into success, fulfilling his great dream of entering the Guinness Book
of Records.
Following his triumph, Al-Mousawi became
the CEO of Al-Faisal Universal Rehabilitation Center for injuries and autism
cases, an internationally certified open-water diver, and a specialized trainer
in motivation and leadership—all thanks to his resilience and defiance of
disability.
After becoming an icon who inspired
millions worldwide, he expressed his joy and gratitude for his remarkable
achievement, saying: “The accomplishment we achieved is a testament to the
power of determination and the limitless potential of the human spirit. This
record is not just mine—it belongs to everyone who refuses to be shackled by
limitations.”
In 2019, he experienced a humorous incident
in a shopping mall, when a child expressed pity for his condition, saying to
his father: “Poor man, he cannot walk.” The father replied: “That is
Faisal Al-Mousawi—he is faster than both you and me under the water.”
Photographer Fahad
Al-Bustaki
His camera was on his shoulder since
childhood, until photography became both a passion and a livelihood, despite
the disability that afflicted his frail body.
The young Kuwaiti, Fahad Al-Bustaki,
suffered from paralysis since birth. Yet this did not stop him from becoming a
prominent name among talented photographers, covering major sports events,
including the FIFA Club World Cup 2019 in Qatar.
He had been passionate about photography
from a young age, compensating for his inability to play football by capturing
high-quality sports photographs.
Speaking of his love for photography,
Al-Bustaki said it began in his childhood with a basic camera. His admiration
for Kuwait’s Al-Qadsia Football Club, along with his wide knowledge of various
sports, contributed to his distinction in sports photography.
His journey began with a camera purchased
for a few dinars at the age of 15. His hobby evolved as he captured Al-Qadsia’s
training sessions. Two years later, he went professional, buying the latest
cameras worth about 5,000 Kuwaiti dinars. He emphasized that his disability
never obstructed his pursuit of photography, though it occasionally limited him
from taking shots that required specific postures.
Thanks to his skill and determination,
Al-Bustaki has covered the most renowned sports tournaments at Gulf, Asian, and
international levels, and he aspires to one day cover the FIFA World Cup.
Qatari Inspiration
Ghanim Al-Muftah
In recent days, social media has been abuzz
with concern over the health condition of the inspirational Qatari youth,
Ghanim Al-Muftah. His brother reassured fans on Instagram, saying: “Alhamdulillah,
he is improving.”
He revealed that Al-Muftah had undergone
surgery in Germany and suffered serious complications. Supporters expressed
their love and admiration for him, praising his strong will and inspiration in
overcoming challenges.
In September 2024, Al-Muftah represented
youth at the Future Summit, held alongside the 79th UN General Assembly
in New York. He emphasized: “As a person with a disability, I have learned
that real progress does not come from overcoming personal challenges alone, but
from how we, as a society, embrace one another’s differences.”
He also highlighted that children have no
choice when wars and conflicts inflict unnecessary injuries and lifelong
disabilities. Stressing that ending global violence—in Gaza and beyond—is in
our hands, he urged action to stop the suffering today so we can see a clearer
tomorrow.
Concluding his speech, he said: “The
future belongs to our youth. We must ensure they are ready to assume leadership
roles in order to be the makers of change.”
American Converts Through
Al-Muftah’s Recitation of Quran
An American youth sent a message to Ghanim
Al-Muftah, expressing his gratitude to Qatar, saying that he had embraced Islam
after watching the opening ceremony of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
He added that he went to the nearest mosque
in Los Angeles to obtain a copy of the Noble Quran, where his journey with
Islam began and he returned to the Straight Path.
Al-Muftah wrote on X: “All praise is due
to Allah, Who used me as a cause for the guidance of my brother Adam,”
sharing the American’s message along with a video announcing his entry into
Islam.
Omani Twins in an
American Competition
Among other inspiring stories of people
with disabilities are the Omani twin students with hearing impairments, Hamoud
bin Nasser Al-Sa`di and Ali bin Nasser Al-Sa`di. They won third place in the
prestigious Global Robot Competition hosted by George Washington
University.
The competition drew elite young inventors
from around the world, with 165 teams from different countries.
The Omani team presented a robotic
innovation designed to help provide solutions for access to clean, drinkable
water.
Their accomplishment was celebrated as a
true act of creativity and talent, as they reached the finals and won third
place globally, earning the title “Team of the Brave.”
The twins also aspire to study in the
United States to learn American Sign Language, hoping to bring it back to
benefit the Omani community.
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