The Ruling on the Leading of the Deaf and Mute in Congregational Prayer

The questioner:
May Allah reward you. This group says: We are a group of deaf and mute people; we do not speak and we do not hear. We ask you to inform us about how to pray in congregation, and whether one of the deaf can lead us, and how that is done, or should we pray individually, knowing that we are all deaf and mute?

The Shaykh:
How can you hear me when you are deaf and mute? How do you hear my answer?

The questioner:
There is an interpreter, O Shaykh, behind them.

The Shaykh:
Yes, repeat the question.

The questioner:
We are a group of deaf and mute people; we do not speak and we do not hear. We ask you to inform us about how to pray in congregation, whether one of the deaf can lead us, and how that is done, or should we pray individually?

The Shaykh:
One of you should lead you. Allah the Exalted said: And since congregational prayer is obligatory, congregational prayer is obligatory, so one of you should lead you. Either a healthy person who reads and speaks, or one of you should lead you, based on the saying of Allah the Exalted: "So fear Allah as much as you are able." And do not leave the congregational prayer.