Receiving state benefits for disability does not withhold the reward in the Hereafter
25-1-2016 | IslamWeb
Question:
Dear Scholar, this question is from my friend who is handicapped, he has only two fingers in his left arm. He is fully healthy except for what I mentioned, that he has only two finger in his left arm. In our country, the government gives some special benefits to the handicapped/disabled people. For example, the government preserves some seats for the disabled/handicapped candidates in government jobs. My friend said that he does not want to take advantage of this because he thinks that if he takes advantage of his disability then in hereafter he will not be rewarded for it. So he wants the compensation from Allaah in the hereafter as Allaah made him with this disability. Dear Scholar, is he correct? Will Allaah deprive him of his reward in the hereafter if he makes use of such advantages due to his disability?
Answer:
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
Indeed, when trials befall a person, he shall be rewarded for enduring them while aspiring to the rewards of Allaah, The Exalted, who says (what means): {...Indeed, the patient will be given their reward without account."} [Quran 39:10]
It has been reported that the Prophet said, "Trials will not cease to befall the believing man and woman in their self, offspring, and wealth until they meet Allaah without having any sin." [At-Tirmithi]
Moreover, the Prophet said, "The greatest reward comes with the greatest trial. When Allaah loves a people, He tests them. Whoever patiently endures earns His pleasure but whoever is discontent with it incurs His wrath." [At-Tirmithi]
It has been also reported that the Prophet said:
- "No fatigue, disease, anxiety, grief, harm, nor distress befalls a Muslim, even if it were the prick he receives from a thorn, except that Allaah expiates some of his sins for that." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
- "When Allaah wants to do good to somebody, He afflicts him with trials." [Al-Bukhari]
Receiving special benefits on account of his disability does not deprive the disabled person of this reward in the Hereafter. The disabled person may in some cases be classified as needy and accordingly becomes eligible for receiving zakah, and the sharee'ah does not discourage him from accepting it.
Please, also refer to fatwa 85773.
Allaah knows best.