Ableism, disability and the spiritual journey of Ramadan
To truly embrace the spirit of Islam, we must challenge ableist assumptions within our communities, where there is discrimination against disabled individuals, and promote a more inclusive approach to worship.
By MOGAMAT RIDA DESAI
While the statement ‘ableism leads to disability’ is not entirely accurate in a medical sense, it is deeply relevant when viewed through the social model of disability. This model argues that disability is not just a physical or medical condition but is created and exacerbated by societal barriers, including negative attitudes, lack of accessibility and discriminatory beliefs. Ableism – discrimination against disabled individuals – plays a significant role in shaping these barriers.
From an Islamic perspective, this manifests in many ways, particularly during Ramadan, when societal expectations around fasting often exclude and judge individuals with disabilities.
For example, as someone with a physical disability, I often encounter people who assume that because I do not fast in the traditional way – abstaining from food and drink –that I am not fulfilling my spiritual obligations in Ramadan. This assumption is a form of ableism because it enforces a rigid, one-size-fits-all interpretation of worship, failing to recognise the diverse and equally valid ways in which disabled individuals engage in spiritual practices.