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f:861 -    Can we select a blind Hafidh for Taraweeh?
 Country : Hyderabad, India,
Name : Inayath Naqshbandi
Question:     A blind Hafidh was performing the duties of the Muedhin of a Masjid.  In the month of Ramadhan, some people are requesting him to lead the Salaat Ul Taraweeh as well.  Can we select a blind Hafidh for Taraweeh?
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Answer:     In the Shariah, Taharah (purity and cleanliness) is of prime importance among the other conditions of Salaat.  In fact, Salaat depends on Taharah only.  There is a Hadith in Jame’ Tirmidhi:

Translation: Salaat will not be accepted without Taharah. (Jame’ Tirmidhi, Vol.  4, Pg No: 3)

A blind person cannot see and as such cannot clean the dirt and filth from the clothes as thoroughly as a person with sight.  Also, there is a doubt in the Taharah of a blind person.  For these reasons, making a blind person Imam is Makruh Tanzeehi (Undesirable).

As given in Durre Mukhtaar, Vol.  1, Pg No: 413/414 and in Radd Ul Muhtaar Pg No: 414.

If the blind person is more knowledgeable than others and if his wife or a minor servant take care of his Taharah, then this undesirability is removed, instead, because of his knowledge, the Imamate of the blind person is better than the Imamate of other persons with sight.  

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) made Hadhrat Abdullah Bin Maktoom (May Allah be well pleased with him) and Hadhrat Ibn Malik (May Allah be well pleased with him) the Imam in a battle and both of them were blind.  As given in Radd Ul Muhtaar, Vol.  1, Pg No: 414

And Allah Most High knows best.

Mufti Syed Ziauddin Naqshbandi Qadri

[Professor, Islamic Law, Jamia Nizamia,
Founder-Director, Abul Hasanaat Islamic Research Center]
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