CHALLENGES FACING MUSLIMS YOUTHS IN 21ST CENTURY.pdf

Muslim youths, like many young people around the world, face a variety of challenges. However, there are some unique issues shaped by their religious, cultural, and social contexts. Here are some key challenges:

### 1. **Identity Crisis and Cultural Pressures**
Many Muslim youths, particularly in non-Muslim majority countries, struggle with balancing their Islamic identity with societal expectations. They may feel pressure to conform to Western cultural norms, which sometimes conflict with their religious beliefs and values. This can create confusion and an internal struggle over identity.

### 2. **Islamophobia and Discrimination**
Muslim youths are often subjected to Islamophobia, which includes prejudice, discrimination, and even violence. Negative stereotypes in media and society can lead to feelings of marginalization, impacting their self-esteem, mental health, and opportunities.

### 3. **Peer Pressure**
Like other young people, Muslim youths face peer pressure, but this can be more intense if the behaviors encouraged by peers conflict with Islamic teachings (e.g., drinking, partying, or engaging in premarital relationships). This pressure can challenge their ability to stay true to their religious principles.

### 4. **Lack of Proper Religious Guidance**
With the rise of social media and diverse opinions, some Muslim youths may find it challenging to discern authentic Islamic teachings from misinformation. This can lead to confusion about religious practices, ethics, and values, particularly when faced with modern dilemmas.

### 5. **Radicalization and Extremism**
Some Muslim youths may become vulnerable to radical ideologies due to a lack of understanding of Islam, feelings of alienation, or political grievances. Extremist groups exploit these vulnerabilities, offering a sense of belonging and purpose, which can be dangerous for young people.

### 6. **Challenges with Education and Career**
Muslim youths may encounter challenges in pursuing education and careers due to discrimination or difficulty in finding environments that respect their religious practices, such as observing prayer times or wearing religious attire like the hijab. Additionally, in some cultures, there's a tension between pursuing secular education and religious studies.

### 7. **Mental Health Issues**
The pressures of identity, discrimination, and balancing religious and societal expectations can lead to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. Unfortunately, mental health is sometimes stigmatized within Muslim communities, leading to a lack of proper support for those in need.

### 8. **Family Expectations**
In many Muslim families, there are high expectations regarding education, career, and marriage. Balancing personal goals with family expectations can be difficult for Muslim youths, especially when their aspirations differ from traditional paths laid out by their parents.

1. CHALLENGES FACING MUSLIM
YOUTHS IN 21
ST
CENTURY

Being a paper presentation at the Annual Lecture
of Muslim Students’ of Yewa Central College of
Education Abeokuta, Ogun State.


At the College Central Hall, Abeokuta, Ogun State
Dated: Friday 19th November, 2021

2. MEET THE FACILITATOR
Rasheed Kazeem Oluwasegun

Ph.D (In view), M.Ed, B.Sc (Ed), MNAEAP, EMPM,
MNIM, MTRCN, MACSN, CT, Dip. Digital Mkt.,
CEAF, CME, W
10
FE, CMIE, FMIE, M.APROCON,
AMIBRN, MCIEMA (USA)

3. INTRODUCTION
•Youth is one of the earliest stage in human.
•It is the prime period of one’s life.
•It is the period when a human is no more a child
but an adult (time of puberty and maximum
strength).
•A period of passion, power, drive, desire and
energy. There is no doubt that it is a period of life
where an individual needs more guidance in his
MENTAL, SPIRITUAL and MORAL, spheres of life.

4. INTRODUCTION
•Youth is a period of high energy and great
enthusiasm, coupled with perpetuity.
•It is the most important stage of man’s life
because this is the stage when the person
chooses a path. The path may be right or wrong.
•A stage of deviations and distractions like
watching movies, music, girls, cigarettes, alcohol,
games etc.
•A stage of choosing right path to success and the
doom path.

5. INTRODUCTION
•This is the age where we do not have the
complete control over our desires and we get
attracted and addicted to things which are
disliked and prohibited in Islam.

•Today’s Muslim youths are expected to be
“YOUTHS WITH MISSION” – a mission to
contribute toward the progress of Islam.

6. QURAN SPEAKS
• انل ئٌهو ةمحر كندل نم انتآ انبر اولاقف فهكلا ىلإ ةٌتفلا ىوأ ذإ
ادشر انرمأ نم
(Kaff:10)

•Note: All the Prophets of God were chosen at
their youthful age

7. From the Desk of the Prophet (S.A.W)
Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) has listed seven kinds of people
who will be sheltered under the shade of God on the Day of
Judgment. They are:

1. A just ruler
2. A young man who used his youth in the worship and
service of God
3. One whose heart is attached to the mosque
4. Two people who love each other for the sake of God
5. A man who is invited to sin but declines, saying ‘I fear God’
6. One who spends his charity in secret, without making a
show, and
7. One who remembers God in solitude so that his eyes
overflow with tears. (Riyadh-us-Saliheen, Hadith 376)

8. From the Desk of the Prophet (S.A.W)
•He instructed in one hadith: “Take advantage of five
(matters) before five (other matters): your YOUTH,
BEFORE YOU BECOME OLD; your health, before you
fall sick; your richness, before you become poor; your
free time, before you become busy; and your life,
before your death.”

•Mu’adh ibn Jabal reported: The Messenger of Allah,
peace and blessings be upon him, said, “The feet of a
servant will not move on the Day of Resurrection until
he is asked about four matters: his lifetime and how
he used it, his YOUTH and how he exhausted it, his
wealth and how he earned it and spent it, and his
knowledge and how he acted upon it.” (Source: al-
Mu’jam al-Kabīr 111)

9. From the Desk of the Prophet (S.A.W)
•Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) said: “There are two
blessings which many people lose: (They are)
health and free time . . .” (Bukhari)

•Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (RA) said: “There are two
things which people do not recognize the
greatness until they lose them: their youth and
good health.”

10. Contemporary Challenges Facing
Muslim Youths
1. SOCIAL CHALLENGE
•This comes in many ways as many Muslims are faced
with many abuses and moral decadences in the
society today. Many Muslims are facing this due to
the fact that they cannot dress as dictated by their
religion except they dance to the music of their spoilt
society before they can be recognized. Allah Says in
Q2: 120

• نلو ىضرت كنع دوهٌلا لاو ىراصنلا ىتح عبتت مهتلم لق نإ ىده الله
وه ىدهلا نئلو تعبتا مهءاوهأ دعب يذلا كءاج نم ملعلا ام كل نم الله
نم ًلو لاو رٌصن

11. Contemporary Challenges Facing
Muslim Youths
2. ECONOMIC CHALLENGE
Muslims globally are facing many problems related to
economy. This Has been predicted by Prophet Muhammed
(S.A.W) that a time is coming where no one would
differentiate RIBA from normal trading. In today’s society of
ours, the fastest means of survival revolved round forbidden
earnings. This challenge is affecting the consciousness of
Muslims in respect to earnings. Allah Says in Q2: 275

نٌذلا نولكأٌ ابرلا لا نوموقٌ لاإ امك موقٌ يذلا هطبختٌ ناطٌشلا نم سملا كلذ
مهنأب اولاق امنإ عٌبلا لثم ابرلا لحأو الله عٌبلا مرحو ابرلا نمف هءاج ةظعوم نم
هبر ىهتناف هلف ام فلس هرمأو ىلإ الله نمو داع كئلوأف باحصأ رانلا مه اهٌف
نودلاخ

12. Contemporary Challenges Facing
Muslim Youths
3. IDEOLOGICAL CHALLENGE
The fast growing usage of internet has increased the
spread of many ideologies among the Youths. Many
prefer going online to search for Islamic verdict without
knowing the source. Irrespective of any ideology
adopted, Allah still prefers unity among ALL. Allah says
in Q2: 208
اٌ اهٌأ نٌذلا اونمآ اولخدا ًف ملسلا ةفاك لاو اوعبتت تاوطخ ناطٌشلا هنإ
مكل ودع نٌبم
And remember this in Q3:103
اومصتعاو لبحب الله اعٌمج لاو اوقرفت اوركذاو ةمعن الله مكٌلع ذإ متنك
ءادعأ فلأف نٌب مكبولق متحبصأف هتمعنب اناوخإ متنكو ىلع افش ةرفح نم
رانلا مكذقنأف اهنم كلذك نٌبٌ الله مكل هتاٌآ مكلعل نودتهت

13. Contemporary Challenges Facing
Muslim Youths
4. PERSONAL CHALLENGE
Despite many challenges facing Muslim Youths,
one of the most critical problem identified is
personal challenge. This arises when a Muslim is
beclouded with low self esteem and weak belief
in future aspiration. Allah warns against laziness
in Surah Juma’h verse 10
اذإف تٌضق ةلاصلا اورشتناف ًف ضرلأا اوغتباو نم لضف الله
اوركذاو الله ارٌثك مكلعل نوحلفت

14. Contemporary Challenges Facing
Muslim Youths
5. Globalization Challenge
The super power countries in the world are
claiming that the world should be globalized.
Meaning, all nations should be one in ideology,
thinking, social and in culture. This on its own is a
great challenge to Muslim Youths. Presently, there
are many tools created to take most of our time
without knowing the consequences. Though,
globalization is good but how many Muslim youths
are aware of it harms? Definitely few

15. Contemporary Challenges Facing
Muslim Youths
6. EDUCATION CHALLENGE
Education is one of the golden instruments used by earliest
Islamic scholars to propagate Islam. Islam encourages
education to the highest level but reversal is the case among
Muslim Ummah. Some prefer spending on frivolities than to
educate their family members. Most Muslim Youths do not
value education. If one checks the history of Islam one finds
out that the first verse revealed to Prophet Muhammed was
centered on education. Allah says
قلخ يذلا كبر مساب أرقا
قلع نم ناسنلإا قلخ
مركلأا كبرو أرقا
ملقلاب ملع يذلا
ملعٌ مل ام ناسنلإا ملع

16. Some Possible Solutions to the
Challenges
1. Avoid Complaining.
2. Shun Ignorance.
3. Make the Qur’an your daily manual.
4. Uphold the Sunnah of the Prophet (S.A.W.)
5. Keep good company.
6. Focus on the positive
7. Take a daily step towards your goals.
8. Spread Islam logically
9. Distance from evil deeds
10. Never stop learning because life never stops teaching. And be
consistent with the supplication;
11. Check yourself daily.
12. Practice what you preach