It is narrated on the authority of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that a woman, somewhat mentally defected, said, "
O Messenger of Allah! I have a need that I want you to meet. He responded, "O mother of so and so, choose the way you like to walk in so that I may know your need and meet it." He walked with her in some route until she had her need fulfilled (Muslim).
This
is, of course, a proof of his
forbearance, humility, and patience in
answering the needs of those with special needs. It, also, serves a legal
proof that a ruler is obligated to care for people with special needs,
socially, economically, and psychologically, and that the ruler should
fulfill their needs and grant their requests.
The forms of such care include, but are not restricted to the following:
· Medication and regular check-up
· Proper education and training
· Assigning some workers to take care of them
Following this merciful Prophetic course, `Umar ibn `Abdul-`Aziz (may Allah be pleased with him) asked rulers of the provinces to send him the names of all those blind, crippled, or with a chronic illness that prevented them from establishing salah. So
they sent him their names. He, in turn, ordered that every blind man
should have an employee to guide and look after him, and that every two
chronically ill persons — those with special needs — be attended by a
servant to serve and care for them (Ibn Al-Jawzi).
The same course was taken by Umayyad caliph Al-Waleed ibn `Abdul-Malik (may Allah have mercy on him). The idea of the establishment of institutes or centers for the care of people with special needs was his. In AH 88 (707
CE), he ordered the establishment of a foundation specialized in
looking after them. Doctors and servants, paid fixed stipends, were employed
in this foundation. He granted a regular allowance to persons with
special needs, and told them, "Do not beg people." Thereby, he made
them sufficient enough to not beg others. In addition, he appointed employees to serve all those who were disabled, crippled, or blind (Ibn Kathir, At-Tabari).