Youths are the future leaders and backbone of every community. They are the most potential and viable human resource to any nation. So also Muslim youths are the basis of the ummah of which it’s future will be built and if their reformation is grounded upon the strong pillars of the deen (religion) and character, there will be a brilliant future for this ummah by Allah’s will.
Looking back at the history of Islam and Muslims, we see numerous examples of youths who contributed profoundly to the spread of Islam across the globe. Examples include: Jafar ibn Abu Talib, Mus’ab ibn Umair, Usama ibn Zaid, Muaz ibn Jabal, Asma bint Abu Bakr and Aisha bint Abu Bakr to mention but a few. They were not without challenges and difficulties but they persevered and stood firm in the faith. Nowadays, there are a lot of challenges which hinder and pose as a threat to the development of Muslim youths across the world. These challenges could be caused by social, cultural, political as well as economic factors. The prophet (pbuh) said “the world is a prison for a believer and paradise for a disbeliever”. In order to be able to overcome these challenges and not be blinded by this man made paradise, it is essential to know what these challenges are.
Challenges Facing Muslim Youths Worldwide
The challenges many Muslim youths are facing today originates from both the general and Islamic community. This article seeks to take a vivid look at the challenges Muslim youths encounter all over the world.
IDENTITY CRISIS
Identity crisis is a condition in which a person experiences uncertainty about who they are and their proper role in life. Identity crisis occurs as a result of disruptive, fast changing conditions. In countries where Islamophobia and discrimination against Muslims is on the rise, Muslim youths are constantly in a battle with themselves over choosing their religion or following the goodies the world has to offer. They are constantly trying to prove their religion to fellow Muslims while also trying to prove that they are not extremists and that they could be outgoing and wild to non Muslims. An example is a Muslim female youth who lives in America, while wearing the hijab to portray her religion, she also feels like she needs to wear it in a certain way that conforms to the society around her so as not to be labeled odd. Another example is that of a Muslim youth who although wants to follow the principles of Islam also wants to have a taste of the outside world. This often leads to Muslim youths feeling like they have to choose one identity over the other, resulting in either social isolation or an abandoning of Islamic values.
DISCRIMINATION
Discrimination is rampant in societies with low Muslim population. Especially in the education system and labor market, Muslim youths face the challenge of maintaining their Islamic identity while seeking for knowledge and jobs. And even after they have been given these jobs, they are denied basic rights like wearing the hijab, keeping the beards and taking a short time off work to pray the obligatory salat. Also when a Muslim youth objects to a principle based on faith, he or she is termed an extremist or uncivilized individual resulting in discrimination by other religions and groups. Discrimination could also come from family members to Muslim youths who reverted or who do not agree with cultures that are in total violation of the religion. This causes a major problem to Muslim youths because it suppresses them and does not enable them contribute meaningfully to the society they are in as they are not given the opportunity to. Discrimination also occurs as a result of untrue stories heard about Muslims such as the stories about Muslims being terrorists and suicide bombers which causes fear in the heart of people and leads to the oppression of Muslim youths in some parts of the world. This may lead to depression on the part of the youth and they may ultimately make the wrong decision of letting go of their Islam so they can fit into their society.
SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE INTERNET
In the past, seeking knowledge about Islam was mainly through the masjids, educational institutions, and from sheikhs and imams. Now, Muslim youths are also able to learn and ask questions about Islam through social networking sites. The internet has given the public access to all kinds of information, made Islamic literatures so much more accessible and it is a platform to express themselves by being more active and vocal about their faith. As much as the media and internet helps Muslims, it is also adversely affecting the Muslim youth. As said earlier, the internet gives the public access to all kinds of information which also includes wrong information about the religion which could make them drift from their religion.Obscene, illicit and vulgar contents are made easily accessible by the internet and Muslim youths may fall prey and become addicted to these contents. Islam Is also sometimes viewed in a negative light by others due to untrue stories posted on the internet which in turn leads to discrimination of Muslims in some parts of the world. In addition, Muslim youths neglect their salah and time which could be spent in the remembrance of Allah and in being productive is now wasted on social media and on the internet.
RIBA (USURY)
Usury which is the practice of lending money and requiring the borrower to pay a high amount of interest is the principle which banks, network operators and other financial institutions are based on. The prophet (pbuh) cursed the person who accepts riba, its payer, the one who recorded it, and the two witnesses, and he said they are all equal (in sin). Allah also says: those who eat riba (usury) will not stand (on the day of resurrection) except like the standing of a person beaten by shaitan leading him to insanity. That is because they say; trading is only like riba whereas Allah has permitted trading and forbidden riba. So whosoever receives an admonition from his lord and stops eating rIba shall not be punished for the past; his case is for Allah but whoever returns to riba, such are the dweller of the fire-they will abide therein”.
Youths are volatile, enthusiastic, courageous and always bringing up new ideas. But with new ideas comes the need of financial backing by a commercial or microfinance bank and seeking financial help from this institutions come with payment of interest which is totally frowned upon by the religion. Government empowerment programs are not favorable to Muslim youths and so is engaging in farming and cultivations as all these involve loans and grants with interest rates. Although Muslim leaders and Islamic organizations are coming out with alternatives to interest and loan consummation such as the introduction of Islamic banking and other organizations which are non-interest based, the issue is still at large. And while trying to avoid payment of interest, these youths are witnessing their mates from other religions excelling in their entrepreneurship with interest load. This could cause severe damage to the Muslim youths psychologically because they start feeling like failures when they see their peers and they may fall for bad advices all in a bid to raise their self esteem because as they say the idle hand is the devil’s workshop.
CULTURE
Islam is a universal religion, as Allah said in the Qur'an: and we have not sent you (o! muhammad) except as a mercy to the world.
In the above verse, Allah does not address Africans or the Arabs. He addresses all of mankind with all its different cultures. Therefore it is to be expected that Islam can be easily embraced and integrated into different cultures that exist in this world. Islam accepts all cultures around the world as long as they do not contradict it's principles.
As Muslim youths, we are sometimes faced with the challenge of deciding to either follow our Islamic beliefs or accept cultural ideals which contradict Islam. For example, Islam discouragesextravagance of all kinds, falling into debt,free mixing between opposite sexes who are not related, singing and dancing but when organizing wedding ceremonies, we throw caution to the wind all in a bid to follow the culture and not be labelled odd for going againstthe norm. Muslim youths are also constantly surrounded by vulgarity in pop culture. Every day they are exposed to music, movies, TV shows, and media filled with obscene messages. Living in a culture where modesty is rejected and “doing whatever you want” is celebrated can drain anyone, especially young people who are still building identities and figuring out their boundaries. Accepting cultural ideals which contradict Islam is just like the attitude of the disbelievers mentioned in the Quran who rejected Islam based on the fact that they preferred what their forefathers did before them.
And when it is said to them, “Follow what Allah has revealed,” they say, “Rather, we will follow that which we found our fathers doing.” Even though their fathers understood nothing, nor were they guided?
Therefore it is upon us to look at our individual cultures and customs critically, take whatever is good from it and leave those things which contradict with our primary culture– Islam.
SECTICISM
The issue of sects and divisions in the ummah is something that the prophet (pbuh) has attested to by a Hadith narrated by Abu dawood: "whoever among you lives after I am gone will see a great deal of discord" and also a Hadith narrated by mu'aawiyah ibn abi sufyan: those who came before you of the of the book split into seventy-two sects and this ummah will split into seventy-three: seventy-two in hell and one in paradise and that is the jamaa'ah (main body of Muslims). Most of these sects are created when some group of people drift away from the way of the ahl al-sunnah wa'l jammah and develop their own different approach to the religion by adding innovations that are not part of the religion. These sects and divisions are in every part of the world and they lure youths into their religion because they know that at this stage, they are more flexible as they are still learning and trying to find their footing. In the youth’s pursuit for knowledge, they could come across Alfa's and sheikhs who belong to one sect or the other and due to their ignorance they fall prey to these Alfa's and end up following their ways.
Peer pressure, inferiority complex, discrepancies in societal law and lack of Islamic organizations which seek to help young Muslims are also challenges Muslim youths face today.
. The youthful stage is a time in a person’s life where they do not have complete control over their desires and make choices that are most likely to affect their future. Islam has given a great importance to the period of youth because the youthful age is the make it or break it stage of our life. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) has listed seven kinds of people who will be sheltered under the shade of Allah on the Day of Judgment and among them is a young man who passed his youth in the worship and service of Allah. Also in another hadith it is said that make use of your youthful age before old age.
Being a muslim youth in today’s world is filled with its own challenges and just like the muslim youths of the past who persevered in the face of hardship, we also should not just give in and give up but keep fighting and always remember that there are no sad endings for those who put their trust in Allah.
Hiqmot Obalola writes from Ilorin.
Hiqmot Obalola writes from Ilorin.
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