Video: Specially abled Qatari child refuses wheelchair for Umrah

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Screen grab from video
Screen grab from video

Ghanim Al Muftah refused to use a wheelchair to perform Umrah rituals instead he used his hands and crawled around the Kaaba.

By Curated by Nilanjana Gupta

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Published: Mon 23 Jan 2017, 8:07 AM

Last updated: Wed 29 Nov 2023, 3:06 PM

A specially abled Qatari boy has proved that the only disability in life is a bad attitude.

A video of 15-year-old Ghanim Al Muftah meeting the Imam of the Grand mosque in the holy city of Makkah is winning hearts across the internet. Despite suffering from a rare disorder that impaired his lower spine, Ghanim refused to use a wheelchair to perform Umrah rituals. Instead he used his hands and crawled around the Kaaba. Saudi news sites published a video of Sheikh Maher Al Muayqili, Imam of the Grand Mosque embracing and felicitating the child.


"Allah answered my prayers and I was able to perform Umrah and circumambulate the Kaaba on my hands. The assistance that I received was the reason behind this achievement," he told Arab News.

He also thanked the workers at the Grand mosque who dedicate their services to the pilgrims.


"May God protect our country and all Muslim countries, and protect our leaders and keep our security and safety, and treat our patients wherever they are," Ghanim added.

One of a twin, Al Muftah was born with Caudal Regression Syndrome, a rare disorder which impairs the development of the lower spine. But for him disability is no bar. With almost one million followers on Instagram, the teenager has turned heads with his accomplishments at a young age. Today he is the youngest entrepreneur in Qatar with six branches of an ice cream company, operated by 60 employees. He is also a swimmer, ice skater, professional scuba diver and mountain climber, and aspires to be a future Paralympian.

Ghanim's dream was to circumambulate "Tawaf", the Kaaba. In a video shared earlier on YouTube, Ghanim said, "Thanks to Allah. I will be going to Makkah to perform Umrah and make my dream come true. I will pray for you all."

Ghanim, which means 'winner' in Arabic, has proved that his ability is way stronger than his disability.

Watch:

Also read: Disability no bar for this 14-yr-old Qatari Instagram star

Recently Ghanim, a 9th grade student at Al Doha Academy, attended the Arab Social Media Influencers Summit held in Dubai in December 2016. Speaking with Khaleej Times, he said that time, "I want to study political science to become Qatar's future prime minister." And previously climbing Oman's 3,000-metre Jebel Akhdar mountain, his eyes are set on Mount Everest.

Photo: Shaikh Mohammed talking to Ghanim Al Muftah at the Arab Social Media Influencers Summit in Dubai in December 2016. - Wam

(Inputs from Sherouk Zakaria)

nilanjana@khaleejtimes.com


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