I have a little boy of 3 years old. He has cerebral palsy, chronic lung disease and other medical problems. I live in England. The problem is that I will have to put him in a special school when he is 5 years old, but these schools are run by non-Muslims staff and of course, boys and girls are mixed (but at least there are many other Muslim children in this school). School here is obligatory at 5. I could not find a Muslim school who deals with special needs/handicapped children. My little boy despite all his problems is very bright for his condition, all praises be to Allah, and I feel it would be a shame to keep him at home where he does not have the benefit of other children except his little brother. But because I know we cannot follow our own desires, I am seeking your Fatwa on this problem. Please advise me following the Qur'an and the Sunnah and may Allah rewards you for all your efforts.

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

We advise you not to enroll your son in such schools since his creed and religion will be at risk because Christians are keen to implant their beliefs and rites in our children's minds. Christians are also desirous to infuse our children's minds with doubts and misconceptions. So, it is safer and better to be ignorant than to be a non-Muslim and die as such.

The Prophet said: “Every child is born on the Fitrah (natural disposition upon which Allah created mankind). His parents may make him/her a Jew, a Christian or a Maji.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

It is every father's duty to help his children learn their religion and to teach them religious knowledge and not other sciences, especially if there is possible danger on their behavior and faith.

It is your duty to bring Muslim specialized tutors to teach your son at home, and you can discuss such a question with Muslim schools and ask them to establish some classes for the disabled to save them from the traps of the Christians.

For more benefit on the danger of residing in non-Muslim countries on raising children, please refer to Fatwa 179175.

For more benefit on Muslims living in non-Muslim countries, please refer to Fataawa 81142, 86405, 88291, 377986, 81642, 369667, 81464 and 89879.

We ask Allah to bless you and your son, make matters easy for you, and heal your son from every disease.

Allah knows best.