Youth in Islam

 

 

 

Youth in Islam

 

 

 

Today we live in a world where the Muslims do not even know why they

are Muslims (True Believers). Many people today are just Muslims by name and they have no understanding of what Islam is or the basics of Islam. It is important that we study our aqeedah (belief) which is Islam. Islam is a beautiful deen (way of life) where there is no room for blind

following.

 

Allah (The One & Only God) in the Holy Quran encourages us to learn about this deen as much as possible. Allah (The One God) commands us to seek knowledge in Holy Quran Surah Taha, 20:114 "…And say: My Lord increase me in knowledge."

 

Allah (The One God) also says in Holy Quran Surah Fatir, 35:28 "…It is only those who have knowledge among His servants that fear Allah…"

 

 

So we see in this verse that Allah (The One God) says that those amongst the Muslims who have knowledge are indeed the ones who fear Allah (The One God). We also see that the Messenger of Allah made it obligatory upon us to seek knowledge:

Anas Ibn Malik reported that the Holy Prophet said, "Seeking of

knowledge is incumbent upon every Muslim....." (Ibn Majah 1/224 and

Tirmidhi 218)

 

 

From numerous verses and hadith we can see that learning

our religion is obligatory upon every single Muslim and is vital in order to practice Islam.

 

Many things triggered the loss of the Muslim Identity within the

nation. The whole state in which Islamic culture was applied

throughout daily life had collapsed in 1924.. We also see the unbelievers of the West always trying new tactics and brainwashing the youth through obscenity and other subliminal media. The

lack of Islamic culture in families results in blind following youth

whom are raised to be what the society molds them to be. Allah (The One & Only God) says that the unbelievers will never be pleased with us until we astray from our religion and follow their way of life.

Allah (The One God) says in Holy Quran Surat Al-Baqarah, 2:120 "Never will the Jews nor the Christians be pleased

with you (O Muhammad Peace be upon him) till you follow their

religion…"

 

 

Thus we see today the Muslim youth being attracted by

worldly materialistic things of the world and copying the unbelievers bit

by bit which is leading to the decline of understanding of Islam.

Indeed the Holy Prophet prophesized that this would happen one day: In the Saheeh Bukhaari and Muslim, there is a hadeeth on the authority of Abu Sa`eed that the Messenger said, "You will certainly follow the

ways of those nations who were before you, span by span and cubit by

cubit, so much so that even if they entered a lizard's hole, you would

follow them." They said, "O Messenger! (Do you mean) the Jews and the

Christians?" He said, "Who else?"

 

 

It's important to note the distinction of the youth in Islam and the

youth of the West. In the West children are raised as immature, even

when they are in their teens until they reach the age of eighteen or

twenty one. Eighteen and twenty one is when the society in the west

starts holding them responsible for their actions. Such market ideas

like the one mentioned above is imposed on the youth of the West which makes them act like blind sheep. The main concerns of the youth in the west are: pop idols, sports, brittney spears, madonna, fashion, hair styles, clothes, Jay-Z, and so forth all things and person that are immoral, obscene & completely lacking dignity.

 

 

 

In Islam the treatment of the youth is completely different. In Islam when one has reached the age of puberty, he/she is considered to be mature. The mature individual in Islam is required to follow certain obligations and duties. Unlike concerns for pop-singers and fashion, Islam focuses the concerns on that which is relevant to the individual's life.

 

The purpose of human beings, the hereafter, the acts of obedience to Allah (The One & Only God), is all addressed. Therefore the actions, characteristics, and concerns are completely different from the youth of Islam to that of the West.

 

 

 

 

 

We as Muslims cannot continue to raise generations of dumb, blind and

deaf children. We must make our Youth strong because they are the

future hufaaz, scholars, fighters and revivalists of Islam. The fall

of the Khilafah and loss of the Islamic identity should be a lesson

for all of us. We must culture ourselves about the Aqeedah (belief) of Islam and identity of the Muslims as much as possible. This is one of our greatest obligations and priorities at the moment which cannot be

neglected. Imagine if Allah (The One & Only God) were to take your life right this second, you will have no excuse in front of your Lord about why you didn't learn about your religion. If you're going to call yourself a Muslim, then actually look into Islam and see what a servant of Allah (The One God) is truly supposed to be like and act upon it!

 

 

Unlike society today where the role models for young youth are people

like immoral & obscene singers, actors, entertainers who are no greater than the clowns & jokers who used to entertain the king's court or people in streets; the Youth in Islam look up to the best example of mankind which is the Holy Prophet Muhammad & his companions who were the greatest of warriors, scholars, leaders, teachers, true humanitarians & above all the obedient servants of Allah (The One & Only God).

 

In Islam Allah (The One God) blessed the Muslims and gave us a

Prophet so that we may be guided by him. Allah (The One God) says in Holy Quran Surah Al-Ahzab, 33:21 "Indeed in the Messenger of Allâh (Muhammad) you have a good example to follow for him whose hopes are in (the Meeting with) Allâh and the Last Day and remembers Allâh much."

 

Narrated Aishah: A person asked Allah's Apostle (peace be

upon him) as to who amongst the people were the best. He said: Of the

generation to which I belong, then of the second generation

(generation adjacent to my generation), then of the third generation

(generation adjacent to the second generation). [Book 30, Number

6159]

 

At the time when Islam was first introduced to mankind it attracted a

major number of the Youth. We see amazing examples of the true Muslims at that time and look up to them. The Holy Prophet's wife and the mother of the believers, Aishah (r.a) was only 18 when she became a

Mujtahida. She was also the first Muslimah to memorize the whole

entire Holy Quran. Aishah (r.a) is a source that we look back to learn and understand our deen, she narrated many ahadith. Many scholars of that time used to travel from distant places just to attend her halaqas

(classes) and learn about Islam. Arwa Bin Zubair said: "I did not find

anyone more proficient than Aishah in the knowledge of the Holy Qur'an, the Commandments of Halal (lawful) and Haram (prohibited) .

 

That is why even senior companions of the Holy Prophet used to consult Aishah in resolving intricate issues." Indeed she was one of a kind and sisters should look unto her as a great example of a Muslimah.

If we see the attitude of Zayd Ibn Thabit (r.a) we can understand how

serious the youth were about Islam and how well they understood it.

When Holy Prophet was getting ready to fight at Battle of Badr, Zayd not even thirteen years old yet was quick to fight in the cause of righteousness. Zayd Ibn Thabit said to Holy Prophet "I dedicate myself to you, Messenger of God. Permit me to be with you and to fight the enemies of God under your banner." Since he was so young Holy Prophet refused to enlist him.

 

The Holy Prophet Muhammad said to Zayd Ibn Thabit: "Zayd,

learn the writing of the Jews for me," Zayd was quick to respond: "At

your command, Messenger of Allah." Observing just some of these

examples we see how quick, enthusiastic, motivated and pious the youth

were of that time. There is no doubt that the Muslim youth today

should take these great motivating Companions of Holy Prophet as examples to follow.

 

When we look back at these great companions of Holy Prophet and

compare them to ourselves, it's very different. Let's ask ourselves

how much did we know about Islam at the age of eighteen? How much were we willing to sacrifice for Allah's (The One God's) sake at age thirteen? It's important to try and copy the Salaf us Salih as much as possible. Abdullah ibn Amru narrated: "The Holy Prophet said: "My Ummah will face what bani Israel faced step by step, even if one of them approached his mother publicly there will be one of my

Ummah will approach his mother. The people of Israel divided into 72 sects, my Ummah will divide into 73 sects, all of them

are in the hellfire, and one of them is in paradise." We asked "which

one is saved?" the Holy Prophet said: "the one that is Me and my

followers." " [Tirmizi 2565]

 

 

We must remember to spend our youth for the sake of Allah (The One & Only God) wisely before Death over takes us, then it will be too late. Once you become old, weak, and feeble it's extremely hard to do certain things that would normally be easy for the youth. Take your energy, build motivation, use your body, mouth, eyes, hands, legs, all for the sake of Allah (The One God) alone and Allah (The One God) will reward you. The Youth of Islam today are the ones who will revive the Islam, protect Islam and the Muslims. It is a great honor and once in a lifetime opportunity for the youth to manage their energy and time wisely for the sake of Allah (The One & Only God) and His deen.

 

We are accountable for every second we spend in our life, so make every second count. The Holy Prophet said: "Value five things before the other five comes to pass: Value youth before old age, health before illness, affluence before poverty, leisure before becoming too busy and value life before death." [Tirmithi]