Is having a blind Imam disliked?

Assalamu alaikum,

There is an important principle, explained by Imam Abu Zaid al-Dabusi, that, ‘A general ruling need not apply to all particular cases.’

It is generally somewhat disliked ( makruh tanzihan) to choose a blind person as imam because they may well not be as able as others to avoid filth ( najasa), may veer a little from the qibla, and may miss washing their limbs completely in wudu. [Shaykh Zada, Majma` al-Anhur, 1.107, based on Mulla Khusro’s Durar]

However, if the blind person is more knowledgeable, more righteous, or generally more suitable, then it is not only not disliked for them to be imam but rather superior for them to be chosen to lead. [Ibn Nujaym, al-Ashbah wa’l Nadha’ir, 3.344; Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar, 1.560]

This is why the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) chose Ibn Umm Maktum (Allah be pleased with him), a blind Companion, as acting governor of Madina (and imam for prayer) when he (peace and blessings be upon him) went on expedition to Tabuk. [Shaykh Zada, Majma` al-Anhur, 1.107, quoting al-Burhan]

So, for example, one of my teachers, Shaykh Hassaan al-Hindi of Damascus, is both blind and imam of a mosque. This is common.

Wassalam,
Faraz Rabbani

في مجمع الأنهر: (1/107)( وَالْأَعْمَى ) ; لِأَنَّهُ لَا يَتَوَقَّى النَّجَاسَةَ وَلَا يَهْتَدِي إلَى الْقِبْلَةِ بِنَفْسِهِ وَلَا يَقْدِرُ عَلَى اسْتِيعَابِ الْوُضُوءِ غَالِبًا كَمَا فِي الدُّرَرِ وَإِنَّمَا قَيَّدَهُ بِقَوْلِهِ غَالِبًا ; لِأَنَّهُ يَلْزَمُ بِعَدَمِ التَّقْيِيدِ أَنْ لَا تَجُوزَ الصَّلَاةُ أَصْلًا لِنُقْصَانِ الْوُضُوءِ . وَفِي الْبُرْهَانِ لَوْ لَمْ يُوجَدْ بَصِيرٌ أَفْضَلُ مِنْهُ يَكُونُ هُوَ أَوْلَى لِاسْتِخْلَافِ النَّبِيِّ عليه الصلاة والسلام ابْنَ أُمِّ مَكْتُومٍ عَلَى الْمَدِينَةِ حِينَ خَرَجَ إلَى تَبُوكَ وَكَانَ أَعْمَى.