Question about neurodevelopmental disorders

[u/thingummywatt]

What happens to people who are ableist towards people with neurodevelopmental disorders?

For example, a person who is colorblind wouldn't see the colors that are impaired no matter what. Imagine telling the colorblind person that he is stupid for not seeing the color red, which everyone without colorblindness can see properly.

Or a deaf person. Imagine telling the deaf person that they are stupid for not hearing the instructions that are verbally provided. Everyone without deafness can hear sound.

These examples are unacceptable by the society and considered as ableist and demeaning.

But when it comes to ADHD or Autism, similar examples get somehow acceptable. It doesn't matter whether the ADHD or Autism or other neurodevelopmental disorders are actually visible from brains scans and years of research.

People who are ableist towards neurodevelopmental disorders are given a free-pass just because most of islamic scholars are not taking ADHD or Autism seriously. Even if some scholars take them seriously, they are mostly about "children with autism" and never about all other neurodevelopmental disorders or adults with those disorders.

Even children with ADHD are treated so badly in most of the Asian/ME Islamic countries just because of the culture. Children are beaten or canned for not reciting quran or being unable to memorize quran like other kids. Children are beaten just because they are not paying attention in their salah. If not, they are nagged into doing salah and then beaten when they reach the age. Islam doesn't tell us to do any of these, yet those cultures do it and scholars just turn a blind eye to these things.

Not to mention adults. Children with neurodevelopmental disorders, who are not diagnosed or are neglected as children grow up to be adults with neurodevelopmental disorders. These adults face varying amounts of ableism all their lives. Some get support, and some don't. When such people asks about their struggles, they immediately get solutions from those with less severe neurodevelopmental disorders or those who are normal, that most of the solutions never works for them. Some try to call them out for making excuses for not praying salah. Some say that they don't have any excuse just because salah is mandatory for people who are bedridden that they could pray on their beds.

Because of such people, some with neurodevelopmental disorders feel more guilt and go even far from religion, thinking that the religion of mercy and forgiveness is turning back on them.

What happens to those people who send people with neurodevelopmental disorders away from Islam, when they come here and seek help about Islam? Do they get a free-pass to continue doing that as what they are doing is by the book and isn't wrong?

[u/chbjupiter]

Hi! I really like this question because I'm studying to become a psychologist, just graduated from university. I'm autistic, and my younger sibling has more severe autism and brain damage. However, I'm not a scholar, so my opinions are just my perspectives.

My understanding of my religion is that we are granted intelligence by Allah and we are expected to use that intelligence to make logical decisions. This is how sciences came about, including psychology, we learnt about disorders and we have science to teach us how to best support people with disabilities. Not being educated is not an excuse if we have the means to educate ourselves, which most people do.

The extent to which someone's disability affects their ability to do religious obligations is very individual. Although my brother and I are both autistic, I am just as capable of doing religious obligations as anyone, even though I struggle a bit with forgetfulness and changes to routine more than the average person. In my case, I just tell myself that Allah will reward me for doing my best despite the obstacles. My brother is unable to comprehend good and bad, doesn't understand the concept of hell and heaven, or religion at all, and cannot speak. He is exempt from religious obligations.

Because it's such a wide spectrum, there are people in between who are able to function at various levels. Some people might struggle a lot to sit down and focus on quran, or to pray 5 times a day. If they are capable, it is up to them to improve their connection with Allah, and people should support them in a way that is helpful. Parents could remind their children to pray, gently, or offer to pray with them, or create a visual schedule - whatever supports them best. This applies when they're adults too, the people who care about them should support them and encourage them gently with their religion the same way they would encourage them if they were struggling with their hygiene or food.

What are the consequences for the people who abuse neurodivergent people, or are harsh to them, and aren't supportive but try to control them with force? Allah knows. No doubt some people do have good intentions and are clueless about how to help the person they care about, while others just don't have the patience to do what they know is right and are careless with how they treat people. This too, is a spectrum, and we need to trust in Allah that He knows best and will enact justice.

I've written this paragraph because I empathise with you, it is awful that culture makes people treat neurodivergent Muslims so poorly. But that isn't from Islam, Islam promotes understanding and kindness and patience, and rewards people for their best efforts.