Deaf worshippers in Sharjah welcome sign language sermons

The translation service is being offered at the Ahmed bin Hanbal Mosque, opposite the book roundabout in Sharjah city, and has proved to be popular among the emirate’s deaf Muslim community and even attracts people from further afield.

SHARJAH // Deaf and hearing-impaired worshippers are able to understand and enjoy the Friday sermon at a mosque in Sharjah for the first time – thanks to a sign language programme.

The translation service is being offered at the Ahmed bin Hanbal Mosque in Sharjah city, and has proved to be popular among the emirate’s deaf Muslim community and people from further afield.

The service, given in Arabic, was launched last month after resident Mohammed Malullah called the popular Khat Al Mubasheer radio talk show to make a suggestion to Sharjah’s Islamic authorities.

“The authorities are committed to providing the best services to the people and the success of this programme has benefited many deaf people whose numbers in the mosque are increasing at Juma prayers,” said Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, the director of the Sharjah Islamic Affairs and Awqaf directorate.

He added it was important to find a way of passing on the Friday sermon’s message to all worshippers, including the deaf.

The Ahmed bin Hanbal Mosque has now been divided into two sections, with deaf people sitting to the far right of the prayer hall with a translator in front of them who passes on the message as it is delivered by the preacher.

Salah Al Audah, a translation and sign language specialist from Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services, said he was delighted to be able spread the sermon’s message each Friday.

“You can see a happy face coming on the people who are receiving the sermon even while delivering,” he said. He added that staff at the directorate of Islamic Affairs provided him with the weekly Khutba, or Friday sermon, a day in advance so he can familiarise himself with the message before translating it on Fridays.

Omar, a deaf worshipper from Sharjah who attends the mosque, said the use of sign language had helped make visiting the mosque a more rewarding experience.

“Whenever we attended prayers we used to simply sit down and were left without getting any message,” said Omar, speaking through a translator. “Now we have a very big opportunity to follow up the sermons like any other people and take home the benefits.”

He added the sign language programme had helped to reduce the stigma of exclusion he felt at not being able to understand what was being said.

“The use of sign language has helped to enhance mine and other hearing-impaired people’s knowledge of Islam and make them good practicing Muslims like other worshippers.”

At present the sign language service is only available to male worshippers, but Sheikh Saqr said plans were being drawn up to extend the service to more mosques in Sharjah and to include female translators.