A Proven Path to Conquering Physical Limitations

This is Allah Almighty’s distribution and His wisdom — and He knows best — that many of our brothers and sisters are born with physical disabilities or acquire them later. Yet they remain part of society, just like us. Their basic needs and emotions are no different from ours. Therefore, it becomes a collective responsibility of society to care for them and ensure that they do not develop a sense of deprivation. In this regard, I fully endorse the proposals presented and the demands made to the government, however, I would like to say to my special friends: take heart, work with resolve and courage, and rather than relying solely on facilities, strive to move forward on your own. In this context, I find it appropriate to share a personal reflection.

Sometimes I ponder that Allah, the Lord of Majesty, has blessed human beings with immense gifts in the form of physical organs. These organs are priceless endowments of nature, each beyond valuation. But alongside these organs, nature has also endowed humans with determination, courage, and willpower — far more precious and far more powerful than any physical attribute. I often wonder: are these organs more effective, or is the willpower behind them more potent? Experience and observation tell us that willpower, resolve, and courage are the greatest strengths of all. For many people are blessed with perfect physical health and show no sign of any weakness, yet because their willpower is weak and their resolve feeble, they achieve nothing. On the other hand, we see many people who are physically disabled and apparently in no position to accomplish anything, yet through sheer willpower and determination, they achieve remarkable feats — and their performance leaves us astonished.

Thus, I believe that physical health is indeed a great blessing, but resolve, courage, and willpower are even greater blessings — and by harnessing them, one can overcome physical limitations. Human beings are both extremely weak and extremely powerful. If one’s resolve is directed toward weakness, there is none weaker; but if one’s willpower is channeled toward courage and determination, there is none stronger. Allah has granted human beings tremendous power in the form of resolve and courage, and by employing it, a person can overcome even the greatest of weaknesses.

On this occasion, I also wish to share an incident mentioned by the renowned hadith scholar and historian, Al-Khatib al-Baghdadi, in his book Al-Faqih wa al-Mutafaqqih (’’الفقیہ والمتفقہ‘‘). He relates that a great scholar named Qadhi Awqas (قاضی اوقص) is counted among the eminent judges of Islamic history. His name was Muhammad ibn Abd al-Rahman, and he was known as Qadhi Awqas. Due to his physical appearance and bodily structure, hardly anyone would consent to sit beside him. He narrates his own story: 

He was born that way, but his mother was very wise. When he began to understand things, one day she sat him down and explained: My son, Allah has given you such a form and physique that perhaps no one would even want to sit near you. So take my advice,  devote yourself to acquiring religious knowledge. For knowledge is such a treasure that it covers all flaws and weaknesses. Qadhi Awqas said, he understood his mother's words, dedicated himself to the pursuit of knowledge, and gained such mastery in Islamic jurisprudence that today he serves as a judge — while those who were thought would never even sit with him now come to him with their disputes, and he resolves their cases.

Through this instructive story of Qadhi Awqas, I wish to say this to all my special friends: do demand your rights and facilities, and do press for your entitlements. But if you make knowledge and skill your destination and work with determination and courage, you will attain such a place in society that you will never need to ask anything from anyone. Therefore, I say to the special members of society: your real strength lies in resolve, courage, and willpower, and your greatest target should be knowledge and skill. If you grasp this lesson, like Qadhi Awqas did, people will come to you of their own accord, and society will be compelled to give you your rightful place. May Allah Almighty bless us all with the wealth of resolve, courage, knowledge, and skill. Ameen, O Lord of the worlds.

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