Is it obligatory for a father to teach his deaf-mute son?
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Fatwa No. ( 2890 )
Q: A man has a son who is ten years old. He is deaf and mute; he does not speak, hear, or talk. He is physically weak and has had a type of paralysis since childhood, but he walks with difficulty. He is of sound mind and understands gestures. His father submitted him for an exam at the Institute for the Deaf in Riyadh , and he was accepted. Is it obligatory for his father to have him educated at the aforementioned institute? His father lives in an area far from Riyadh , and he is a government employee. His employer may not approve of transferring him to the study area. It appears that the son does not behave well without his family. We hope you will answer this, and how should his father act if it is obligatory for him? Should he leave his job without his employer's permission if that is obligatory?
A: The principle is that what is obligatory to learn and to teach to those for whom education is obligatory is what is among the necessities of the religion; such as tawhid (the oneness of Allah), shirk (associating partners with Allah), and prayer
and fasting, and the like of what one must know, including the conditions required for prayer and the pillars and obligations entailed in it. So, whatever falls under this category, it is obligatory for you to teach it to him by any means of explanation, whether at home or in a school that provides such instruction. As for anything beyond that, there is leeway in the matter: if it can be facilitated without burden or hardship, do so; if it cannot be facilitated, there is no blame on you, and you are not obligated to enroll him in the aforementioned institute. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: A man has a son who is ten years old. He is deaf and mute; he does not speak, hear, or talk. He is physically weak and has had a type of paralysis since childhood, but he walks with difficulty. He is of sound mind and understands gestures. His father submitted him for an exam at the Institute for the Deaf in Riyadh , and he was accepted. Is it obligatory for his father to have him educated at the aforementioned institute? His father lives in an area far from Riyadh , and he is a government employee. His employer may not approve of transferring him to the study area. It appears that the son does not behave well without his family. We hope you will answer this, and how should his father act if it is obligatory for him? Should he leave his job without his employer's permission if that is obligatory?
A: The principle is that what is obligatory to learn and to teach to those for whom education is obligatory is what is among the necessities of the religion; such as tawhid (the oneness of Allah), shirk (associating partners with Allah), and prayer
and fasting, and the like of what one must know, including the conditions required for prayer and the pillars and obligations entailed in it. So, whatever falls under this category, it is obligatory for you to teach it to him by any means of explanation, whether at home or in a school that provides such instruction. As for anything beyond that, there is leeway in the matter: if it can be facilitated without burden or hardship, do so; if it cannot be facilitated, there is no blame on you, and you are not obligated to enroll him in the aforementioned institute. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.