Guide dog let into mosque

A blind Muslim student has become the first person allowed to take a guide dog into a UK mosque.Mahomed-Abraar Khatri, 18, can now take his dog Vargo to his local mosque in Leicester after the Muslim Law (Shariah) Council UK issued a historic fatwa in response to his request.Issued after months of work by the association and the Muslim Council of Britain, the ruling states: "A blind person, in the light of Shariah Law, will be allowed to keep a guide dog to help him and if required to take him to the mosque for his prayers".Previously, dogs were banned from mosques because the Islamic faith historically sees them as being for guarding and hunting only.They will still be barred from entering the prayer hall for the sake of hygiene but will be allowed to guide their owners to the area where shoes are placed.The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association described the decision as"a massive step forward for other blind and partially-sighted Muslims". Mr Khatri, who attends the RNIB College in Loughborough, previously had to be accompanied to the mosque by a sighted helper.Mohammad Shahid Raza, director of Imams and Mosques Council UK and secretary of Muslim Law (Shariah) Council UK, said: "I am pleased to know that Bilal Jamia Mosque in Leicester is providing a unique facility to our blind Muslim brothers to take their guide dogs with them while visiting the mosque to join the prayers."Such a facility will highlight the Islamic attitude of helping disabled people and enhance the services we provide to the Muslim community."I hope that all existing mosques will follow Bilal Mosque in serving the disabled people in a similar way by providing facilities to them."


http://uk.news.yahoo.com/itn/20080924/tuk-guide-dog-let-into-mosque-dba1618.html
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