Parents washing and bathing their disabled son

Q: I have a seven year old son that is disabled.

Since he is incapable of seeing to his needs, his mother and I attend to him and bath him, change his diapers, wash him, change his clothing, etc.

1. We always try to attend to him in private so that his satr is not exposed to people unnecessarily. However, is it permissible for us to look at his satr while bathing him, changing his diaper, etc, to ensure that it has been cleaned adequately?

2. When performing his istinjaa and cleaning his satr area, I do so with my bare hand. Sometimes, I need to apply medication to these areas as well and do so with my bare hand. Is this permissible?

3. When he gets older, will it be impermissible for his mother to attend to these needs of his? If so, at what age will this apply?

A:

1. If it is not difficult to have a cloth around him and wash him from within the cloth then this will be even better.

2. The safer route is to wear some type of a glove and wash or apply the medication.

3. In the prescribed manner it will be permissible.

And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

 

Answered by:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)