A woman looking at the `Awrah of her disabled son

Q 4: My father has three handicapped and mentally retarded sons. We accept this as a grace from Allah which He bestows only on His believing servants, all praise be to Allah. These three sons are my brothers and are incapable of taking care of themselves. Therefore, my mother undertakes the duty of serving them in terms of feeding, drinking, and clothing despite the fact that they have reached the age of adolescence, the eldest of them being 25 years old. Is it permissible for my mother or me to clean my elder brother and thus see his `Awrah (parts of the body that must be covered in public), as he does not know how to clean himself, because he is mentally retarded?

A: It is permissible for you to undertake cleaning such handicapped children through bathing, washing, and so on. However, you should cover their `Awrah and clean it from behind a veil with your hand covered with a sock or wrapped in a piece of cloth to protect it from getting soiled with any impurity. You should do your best to look after such mentally retarded children. Indeed, Allah does not allow to be lost the reward of those who do good. (Part No. 24; Page No. 426) May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.