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Background material by Professor Omar Hasan Kasule Sr. for Year 2 Semester 2 PPSD session on 30th January 2008.
1.0 Definition
Neurotic disorders are anxiety, fear, compulsive-obsessive behavior, and other minor psychiatric disorders. Psychotic disorders are severe conditions such as schizophrenia, paranoia, and mood disorders (depression, suicide, mania, bipolar disease).
2.0 Impact on worship
Obligatory salat should be delayed in cases of anxiety because concentration will not be possible. Compulsive-obsessive behavior about passing flatus makes salat difficult. The victim feels like he is passing flatus whenever he starts praying. He may have to be advised to ignore the ‘flatus’ and continue the salat. Compulsive-obsessive behavior may be the cause of forgetfulness in salat.
Psychiatric disease of any severity does not affect the obligation of paying zakat because zakat is an obligation related to the wealth and the not the individual. Psychiatric illness of sufficient severity to affect legal competence is sufficient excuse to exempt the victim from the obligation of puasa.
3.0 Activities of daily living
Psychiatric disorders may be associated with self-neglect. The victim neglects personal hygiene and is often dirty and unkempt. He is thus a risk to personal and public health.
4.0 Marriage contract and divorce
Many problems can arise in marriage of a spouse with a psychiatric disorder. Treatment of the disease may have to be attempted before resorting to divorce. In some cases the marriage may be deemed void or irregular because the mental condition of one of the spouses was such that they did not have sufficient legal competence to conclude a marriage. In a similar way divorce pronouncements by an insane person may not have immediate legal effect unless confirmed by a competent court.
5.0 Financial transactions
Contracts by a patient who lacks capacity are void.
6.0 Judicial proceedings
Evidence by a psychiatric patient is evaluated in view of the type of cognitive or personality defects because some may be acceptable.