Muslim social workers’ recommendation of parents with mental illness or intellectual disability disorders in vignettes of simulated religious court cases of custody, marriage, and divorce

ABSTRACT Religion plays a central role in clients’ identities, their behaviors, and their contacts with professionals. Such influence on professionals’ practice is evident in cases of clients with intellectual disability and mental health illnesses in Israel. The article examines the tendency of Muslim social worker to prefer religious recommendations (following the qadi’s decision) regarding the rights of marriage/divorce and child custody for parents with Mental Illness (MI) or Intellectual Disability Disorders (IDD) in simulated vignettes court cases. The study analyzed vignettes simulating Muslim religious (Sharia) court cases. Muslim social workers (138) completed a background and religiosity questionnaires as well as their response to 25 vignettes simulated court rulings adapted for this study. The decision of the qadi was rephrased in a short statement and appended after each case of the 25, this decision was considered as a religious recommendation since it based on religious consideration. The participants were asked whether they agree or disagree with these recommendations. Muslim social workers tended to consider religious recommendation when the family of the person with MI was described as religious. The discussed issue (marriage/divorce or child custody) was found to explain their tendency to adopt religious recommendation in cases of IDD. Implications of our findings are discussed with respect to social work practice and education.