Introduction
Verily all praises are due to Allah. We praise and glorify him, we seek help from him, we ask of his forgiveness and we turn to him. We seek refuge in him from the evil within us and from our evil deeds. Whomsoever Allah guides there is no one to mislead him and whomsoever Allah misguides there is no one to guide him. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, who is one, and he has no partner. I bear witness that Muhammad sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam is his servant and his messenger. May Allah bestow Durood (His choicest blessings) upon him and his noble family and companions and those who followed them with excellence.
It gives me great pleasure to present to my brothers and sisters a very serious problem not only in an Islamic society but in every society, and that is the problem facing the youth in this age. The hearts of the youth are sickened with psychological problems which sometimes make them uneasy with life and they spend their energies in trying to free themselves from those difficulties and removing that sorrow. The removal of the difficulties will never take place except with Deen (religion) and character in which there is the strengthening of society and the betterment of this world and the hereafter. With this (religion and character), goodness and blessings will descend and evil and calamities will end.
Countries don’t prosper except with the help of its citizens and religion does not gain strength except with its followers. When the followers of Islam will stand up for it, Allah will help them no matter how many enemies they have. Allah Ta'ala says: "O believers, if you help Allah’s cause, he will help you and make your feet firm (against your enemies) and those who disbelieved, woe unto them and their actions are in vain." [47:7-8]
If Deen (religion) cannot be strong except with it's followers, then it is necessary for us, the followers of Islam and it's flag-bearers, that we firstly strengthen ourselves so that we may become worthy of leadership and guidance. It is imperative that we learn from the book of Allah (the Qur'aan) and the Sunnah of his Rasool (Messenger) sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam which will equip us for speech, action, guiding and inviting. This will enable us to carry the weapons of the guidance of Islam to all those who seek the truth and also to wield it against all those who seek falsehood.
Then it is necessary for us to put into practice what we have learnt from the Qur'aan and Sunnah, on the basis of Eemaan (faith), conviction and sincerity. Our characteristic should not be one of speech only because if speech is not backed up by action, its effect will not extend beyond the speaker and this speech will have an opposite elect: "O believers, why do you say that which you do not do. It is most hateful in the sight of Allah that you say that which you do not practice." [61:2-3]
It is most appropriate for us that we start at the beginning and ponder over our youth and their thoughts and actions, so that we may increase those which are good and correct those who are incorrect because the youth of today are the men and women of tomorrow and they are the foundation on which a future nation will be built. It is for this reason that the text of the Sharee'ah (Islamic law) has encouraged giving the youth due consideration and directing them to which is good and correct. They are the basis of the Ummah of which its 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, if Allah wills.
A glance at the youth
If we closely exam the youth, it will be possible for us to conclude that the youth are generally of three types: Rightly guided youth, deviated or perverted youth and youth who are confused (between evil and good).
The 1st type
Rightly guided youth are: Youth who firmly believe in all the implications of this Kalima (the shahadatain). They truly believe in their Deen (religion). Eemaan (faith) is beloved to them and they are content and satisfied with their Eemaan. They consider acquiring Eemaan as a profit and deprivation from it as a big loss.
Youth who worship Allah sincerely. They worship Allah alone who has no partner.
Youth who follow the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam practically in his speech and action because they believe that he is the Messenger of Allah and the leader of all messengers.
Youth who establish salah (prayer) perfectly to the best of their ability, because they believe in the benefit and the religious, worldly and social merit found in prayer and the dangerous consequences of neglecting salah for both the individual and the nation.
Youth who give Zakah in full to those who are deserving of it, because they believe that Zakah fulfils the needs of Islam and it is one of the five pillars of Islam.
Youth who fast during the month of Ramadan. They stop themselves from their desires and cravings, whether it is summer or winter because they believe that actions are for the pleasure of Allah. Thus they give preference to that which pleases Allah over that which they desire.
Youth who perform the compulsory duty of Hajj (pilgrimage) to the sacred house of Allah because they love Allah. Thus they love the house of Allah and they love going to the places of his mercy and forgiveness and collaborating with his Muslim brothers and sisters who come to these places.
Youth who believe in Allah, who is their creator and the creator of the skies and the earth. They see from amongst the signs of Allah that which leaves no doubt even for a moment whatsoever in the existence and being of Allah. They see in this vast unique universe, in the form and system of the universe, that which clearly indicates towards the existence of its creator and His total power and complete wisdom, because it is not possible for this universe to come into existence on its own, nor is it possible for it to come into existence coincidentally. The reason for this is that the universe was non-existent before it was brought into existence, and that which is non-existent cannot bring anything into existence, because it itself is non-existent.
It is not possible that the universe came into existence coincidentally because it has a unique well-arranged system, which does not change from the procedure predestined for it.
1. "You will never find a change in the system of Allah." [33:62]
2. "You will never find any reversal in the system of Allah." [35:43]
3. You will not see in the creation of the most gracious any disparity, so turn your vision again. Do you see any rupture? Then turn your vision again, a second time, your vision will return to you dull and in a state of fatigue." [67:3-4]
The fact that this universe has a unique, well-arranged system, prevents its existence being coincidental. That which is in existence coincidentally will also have a system which is coincidental, which is likely to change or be disturbed in a short period of time.
Youth who believe in the angels of Allah because Allah has given information regarding them (the angels) in his book the Qur'aan and his Messenger sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam has given information regarding to in the Sunnah (the traditions). The Qur'aan and Sunnah explain their qualities, their worship and their actions to which they rigidly stick to for the goodness of the creation. This clearly points to the existence of the angels.
Youth who believe in the Books of Allah. Allah revealed these books to his Messengers as a source of guidance for the creation towards the straight path. It is not possible for the mind of man to understand the intricacies of worship and social life except with the books of Allah.
Youth who believe in the prophets and Messengers of Allah whom Allah sent to his creation to call them towards good and enjoin them with good and prevent them from evil so that people do not have any proof against Allah after the sending of prophets. The very first Messenger was Nooh alayhis-salam and the last messenger was Muhammad sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam.
Youth who believe in the last day in which people will be resurrected after dying, so they may be recompensed for their actions. Whoever does good equal to an atom, will reap it, and whoever does evil equal to an atom, will reap it. This is the consequence of this world, otherwise what is the benefit of life and what is the wisdom of life if there is no day for the creation in which the doer of good will be compensated for his good, and the perpetrator of evil, punished for his evil?
Youth who believe in the predestination of good and evil. Thus they believe that everything is with the decree of Allah and his divine foreordainment. This is despite their belief in causes and their related effects and that for both good and evil there are means.
Youth who adhere to the advice of Allah, His messengers, His book, the leaders of the Muslims and the general masses. They interact with Muslims with frankness and openness - the way it is incumbent upon them. They neither mislead, deceive nor conceal anything.
Youth who call towards Allah with deep insight, in accordance to the manner Allah has laid down in his book. "Call towards the path of your Sustainer with wisdom and sound advice and debate with them in a manner that is befitting." [16:125]
Youth who enjoin good and forbid from evil because they believe that in this is the success of the nation. "You are the best of nations, taken out for the guidance of mankind. You enjoin good and forbid from evil and you have full faith in Allah." [3:110]
Youth who strive in the changing of evil in the way established by the Messenger of Allah sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam: "Whomsoever from amongst you sees an evil, he should change it with his hand. If he does not have the power to do this, then he should change it with his tongue. If he does not have the ability to do even this, then he should change it with his heart (by scheming in the eradication of this evil)." (Hadith)
Youth who speak the truth and accept the truth, because truth leads to good and good leads to paradise. A person will continue being truthful and pursue the truth until Allah records him as being a truthful person.
Youth who love good for the general Muslims because they believe in the saying of Nabi sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam: "None from amongst you can be a true believer until he loves for his (Muslim) brother [and sister] that which he loves for himself." (Hadith)
A teenager who is cognizant of his responsibility to Allah and his nation. He strives always for the goodness of his Deen (religion), his nation and homeland, keeping far from egoism and far from giving consideration to his own good at the expense of the good of others.
A teenager who strives for the pleasure of Allah and with the help of Allah in the path of Allah. He strives with sincerity without pride or want of reputation. He strives with the help of Allah without being conceited and without depending on his own might and power. He strives in the path of Allah for the uplifment of his Deen without exceeding the bounds and without laxity. He strives with his tongues, hand and wealth in the manner that the needs of Islam, and the Muslims demand of him.
Youth who have character and Deen in them, thus they are of refined character, religion, gentle, liberal, noble-minded, clean-hearted, steadfast, enduring and resolute. They do not waste any opportunity nor do they let compassion overcome intelligence and the need for reformation.
A teenager who is systematic. He works with wisdom and silence despite being firm and excellent in his work. He does not waste any opportunity but instead occupies himself in actions which are beneficial for him and his nation.
Together with this, this teenager safe-guards his Deen, character and conduct. Thus he is extremely distant from those qualities which contradict this, like kufr (disbelief), apostasy, inequity, disobedience, lowly character and evil mutual relations.
These types of youth are the pride of a nation and a symbol of its prosperity and Deen. These are the youth who will obtain the good of this world and the hereafter. They are the youth who we hope that Allah, with his grace, will use to rectify the corruption amongst the Muslims and illuminate the spiritual path of the seekers of truth.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Source: http://www.kalamullah.com/youth01.html
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