Syed Abdallah Alman Ahmad
All praise be to Allah, the most merciful. Role of the youth in building an Islamic nation is a topic that should be of great importance to us and we need to be well-versed about it. Ibn Abbas (RA) reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Take advantage of five before five: your youth before your old age, your health before your illness, your riches before your poverty, your free time before your work, and your life before your death” (Saheeh al-Jaami’: 1077). Youths are the most lively, energetic, enthusiastic and determined people of the nation. They, in all ages and places, are the pillar of their nation, the secret of its renaissance, and the bearer of its flags and banners. Many people would say that they are the leaders of tomorrow, but verily, they are the leaders of today and tomorrow.
Islam takes great care of the youth, as they were the group that stood by the Prophet (SAW) the most during the early days of his prophethood, and they aided him and supported him and endured hardships for that reason. Abdullah ibn Abbas (RA) once said: ‘Allah does not give His slave knowledge except when he is young, and all goodness is in youth,’ then he recited a verse from the Quran: ‘Indeed they were youths that believed in their Lord, and we increased them in guidance’ (Surah Al Kahf: 13) And the Prophet (SAW) also emphasized on the refinement of the morals the youths possessed and preparation for them to be the leaders. He also motivated them on their work and worship, and in the Hadith about the seven kinds of people who will receive shade from Allah, he mentioned: ‘A just ruler, and a youth who grew up worshipping Allah’ (Sahih Muslim: 1893) The Messenger (SAW) also urged the youth to be strong in belief, structure, and action, he said: ‘A strong believer is more beloved to Allah than a weak believer, and there is goodness in all’ (Sahih Muslim: 2664) Umar Ibn Al Khattab (RA), when he served his time as the 2nd caliph of the Rashidun Caliphate, used to take youths as his advisers. In the Islamic history, we can find countless examples of youths who were leaders, for example: Usama ibn Zayd, the 17 year old companion of the Prophet (SAW) who lead the Rashidun army, Muhammad ibn Qasim, the 17 year old who lead the Umayyad army to the victory over Sindh, also Muhammad II of the Ottoman Empire, the 21 year old sultan who captured Constantinople. These are some great proofs that the youths are able to be leaders. But, with great sadness I say, when we contemplate the state of our society today and try to closely monitor the activity of its youth, we find them distracted by what destroys the pillars of this nation instead of building and establishing them. They forget that responsibilities exist and being dutiful is basically a forgotten myth. They waste their time sitting at cafes doing meaningless stuff. Or you’ll find them sitting near the television watching corruptive channels.
Developing youth - spiritually, mentally and physically - in a good and sound manner produces youths who carry the concerns of the nation, who are directed towards good, who are beneficial and develop society, who face the challenges of the present, and who strive for the growth of the nation socially, economically and politically.
However, if they are contrary to what was mentioned above, youth with low development that is not interested in improvement, and youths who are not interested in the qualities that Allah has given them, who are devoted to a life of amusement and ease, under the pretext that they want to live their young life, and that it is only for pleasure and enjoyment, unaware that at this stage of their lives they have been entrusted with the affairs of the nation and society, then this is a waste of energy and time. The nation’s leaders need to assign positions and responsibilities to the youth, preparing them, developing their talents, and unleashing their potential, while giving them the opportunity to meet with the elders and seniors, benefit from their experience, and draw from their experiments; so that the strength of the youth merges with the wisdom of the elders, resulting in sound judgement and righteousness in action.
To avoid all the negatives that may come from young people in society, we must strive to invest their energies, strengths and potential in what is hoped to be beneficial and useful in terms of job and employment opportunities to fight the amount of unemployment that has begun to ruin the nation, and threatens its most vital individuals with loss, poverty and homelessness. It is necessary to occupy them with educational, cultural, social and physical activities to make sure that this young group raises their level and morale, instead of neglecting them and abandoning them in the darkness of the abyss.
The youths, they are the ones aiding the nation, and for this, it is obligatory upon the nation to raise them well for their righteous development, as correction of the youth marks the improvement of the nation, while corruption of the youth marks the depravity of the nation.
Syed Abdallah Alman Ahmad
is a student of Madrasatun
Noor, Dhaka.
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