We’re quick to show compassion for the things we can see. A cast, a wheelchair, a visible condition, these instantly signal that someone needs understanding. But what if some of the heaviest struggles are hidden, silent, and easy to overlook? What if disability isn’t always something you can point to?
What does it mean to be neurodivergent?
Neurodivergence refers to natural differences in how a person’s brain works, how they think, learn, process information, and experience the world. It describes minds that function differently from what society considers “typical,” yet are no less human, intelligent, or deserving of compassion.
Take ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder).
On the outside, a person with ADHD may look perfectly fine. But internally, they may struggle with staying focused, managing time, regulating emotions, or remembering tasks, challenges that can affect school, work, relationships, and daily life. You may never see the battle, but they feel it every day.
Being neurodivergent does not make them uncool, antisocial, or “weird.” They are uniquely created by Al Khaliq (The Creator), and that’s perfectly fine. Humans just love to put labels on people, and not always the most fitting. Some individuals may struggle with learning, feel socially awkward, or perceive the world differently. But should we be surprised? After all, Allah says:
يَآأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقۡنَٰكُم مِّن ذَكَرࣲ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلۡنَٰكُمۡ شُعُوبࣰا وَقَبَآئِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوٓاْۚ إِنَّ أَكۡرَمَكُمۡ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَتۡقَىٰكُمۡۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرࣱ
O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allāh is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allāh is Knowing and Aware. (Al-Hujurat 49:13)
The most common example of neurodivergence we can relate to is Dyslexia. Others include:
- ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Dyspraxia
- Tourette’s Syndrome
- Sensory Processing Disorders
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Bipolar Disorder
- Dscalculia
- Speech Disorders
The list is expanding as diagnostic criteria change, awareness increases, and stigma around these conditions diminishes. It’s also important to note that some conditions, such as ADHD and autism, have varying levels of severity.
Allah is truly the Greatest, and He does as He wishes with no one to question His actions. Neurodivergent individuals have distinct features that set them apart from “normal” or neurotypical individuals. Here are some of them:
1. Not a Medically Diagnosed Condition: Neurodivergence is an all-encompassing term for the differences in brain functioning. It’s nuanced and as deep as any other human categorization. Just as no two people have the same fingerprints, we are all different.
2. Developmental Distinctiveness: Many of these conditions typically manifest in early childhood and affect growth and learning.
3. Brain Functioning: Neurodivergent individuals may have unique cognitive abilities, behaviors, and ways of processing sensory information.
These differences can manifest in various ways; some individuals may be exceptionally talented in certain areas while struggling with seemingly simple tasks. I recently saw a video of an autistic man who could draw remarkably well simply from a description. Conversely, a woman shared that her 25-year-old autistic daughter could hardly manage independently.
Is Neurodivergence merely a buzzword or an excuse for certain behaviors?
Neurodivergence has, just like mental health, turned into a word people tend to throw around carelessly or make fun of.
It‘s hard, I get it, everyone is claiming to be neurodivergent, and it has sort of morphed into a buzzword or a “cool clique.” However, people with these conditions exist, and they need empathy, accommodation, and allowances from society.
I used to be cynical or even roll my eyes whenever someone said they had Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or just found it hard to concentrate. Living in the West, I hear it a lot.
As a neurotypical individual, I found it easy to dismiss these claims, assuming they were seeking pity.
Neurodivergence is not even listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). It serves as an explanation for the differences in how we perceive the world, how we exist, and how our brains function differently from societal norms.
It is not an excuse to treat people poorly. In a world that has desensitized kindness to the point that any display of it is celebrated, we should strive to be kind and exemplify what a good Muslim should be.
While Islam is indeed inclusive, this inclusivity must be actively enforced by us as individuals. Allah’s laws provide the guidance we need to reference consistently.
In Al-Ma’idah 5:8
يَآأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ كُونُواْ قَوَّٰمِينَ لِلَّهِ شُهَدَآءَ بِٱلۡقِسۡطِۖ وَلَا يَجۡرِمَنَّكُمۡ شَنَآنُ قَوۡمٍ عَلَىٰٓ أَلَّا تَعۡدِلُواْۚ ٱعۡدِلُواْ هُوَ أَقۡرَبُ لِلتَّقۡوَىٰۖ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ خَبِيرُۢ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ
O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm for Allāh, witnesses in justice, and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness. And fear Allāh; indeed, Allāh is [fully] Aware of what you do.
It is evident from the above verse that empathy is an inseparable part of Islam.
The prophet encouraged dealing with people based on their level of understanding. Cynicism opens the door for shaitan, embodying his trait of arrogance and you potentially getting tested with the quality or condition you mock in others.
I am Muinat Zubair, a permanent seeker of the intertwined Scientific and Islamic knowledge. I love cats, children and the elderly for their vulnerability and simple approach to life.
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