Source: http://qa.muftisays.com/?9612
Question ID: #9612
 
Question: I have a disability that makes the shahada very difficult for me to pronounce
Salam alaykum,

I recently decided to convert to Islam. The problem is that I'm in a very complicated situation because I think I have serious neurological problems. I don't know why, but when I want to say something I feel very strongly about (in this case, the shahada), my brain triggers some kind of mechanism that makes it very difficult. It goes beyond a simple stammer, I'm literally blocked and it can even take a full five minutes (no exaggeration, I'm talking about five real minutes) to manage to pronounce it. I can't hide how complicated it is, it takes up so much of my time and energy.

I know it's normally obligatory to pronounce the shahada verbally, but not wanting to experience this very complicated moment, I pronounced the shahada in my head. I thought that with my disability, my conversion would be accepted. Can you please answer these three questions:
1. Was I right to think that way?
2. Is my conversion accepted?
3. As regards oral recitations of acts such as prayer or repentance, can I perform them in my head because of my disability?

May Allah reward you for your efforts
 
 
Answered by: Ulamaa ID 04 (London)
Date: 30/05/2024 21:08pm

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الجواب حامداومصليا

As long as you have the capacity to pronounce the Shahadah, it is necessary to pronounce it verbally. In contrast to someone who is mute he/she will try as much as possible to say with gesture with his/her finger with conviction of the heart.

Saying Takbeer and reciting in Salah is necessary. In contrast to someone mute he/she will be exempted from this.

Making Dua or repentance can be verbal or in silence.

وقراءة الأخرس وشهادته الشهادتين إيماء بيده مع الاعتقاد بالقلب (النهاية)
وفي جامع الشرائع: يجزي الأخرس تحريك لسانه وإشارته، وفي المفاتيح : يأتي بها الأخرس على قدر الإمكان

إيماء الأخرس وكتابته كالبيان باللسان
(الدرالمختارمع ردالمحتار ٦/٧٣٧)

(ولا يلزم العاجز عن النطق)
كأخرس وأمي (تحريك لسانه) وكذا في حق القراءة هو الصحيح لتعذر الواجب، فلا يلزم غيره إلا بدليل فتكفي النية، لكن ينبغي أن يشترط فيها القيام وعدم تقديمها لقيامها مقام التحريمة ولم أره. ثم في الأشباه في قاعدة التابع تابع فالمفتى به لزومه في تكبيره وتلبية لا قراءة
(الدرالمختارمع ردالمحتار ١/٤٨١،سعيد)

And Allah knows best

22 Dhul Qa’dah 1445/ 30 May 2024
Mufti Qamruzzaman

London, UK
 
www.MuftiSays.com