| By fizzaarif,
on 13-11-2003 14:14
|
Views : 1117  |
Favoured : 21 |
Published in : , Articles |
Living in the West, we, the youth, are snared and attacked from all sides. We struggle to find a place for ourselves in this society. There are many distractions, which seek to steer us from the straight path. We are exposed to alcohol, drugs, dating, and other influences, and we acknowledge these dangers. Despite our acknowledgements we are still vulnerable to peer pressure and temptation. No one is invincible to these dangers. It will be sad situation for a Muslim family to find out that their son or daughter falls victim to these pressures such as drugs, alcohol, and dating. Coping with peer pressure can be difficult, but there is a simple solution to the problem.
First and foremost, we must identify ourselves. We have to be aware that Islam is not like Judaism or Christianity. It is not a mere monotheistic religion; it is a way of life. It not only teaches us to believe in God but also teaches us how to act in our everyday social affairs. We must understand that Islam was not easily handed down to us. In actuality, Islam reached us through great sacrifices and difficulty.
I have noticed that others and myself are in drastic scarcity of knowledge. Some of us have the passion, the ability, and the will power to become great leaders; however, our lack of Islamic knowledge sometimes impairs us and debilitates our keen abilities. Knowledge is essential to our success. Our beloved Prophet (saww) said, "The good of this world and the world to come is with knowledge."1 Imam Amir ul Mumineen Ali (as) also reiterated the importance of knowledge. He once said, "The one who seeks for knowledge is like a warrior in the cause of religion for the way of Allah." 2 In the west, we have an abundance of invaluable books and resources on Islam that are withheld from Muslims in other countries, yet we still hesitate. We must take advantage of this great opportunity. Only through knowledge can we become true warriors of Islam.
Another problem that is a potential poison to our Youth is the lack of piety and faith. Imam Sadiq (as) was asked about the meaning of piety and he replied, "Piety is that Allah does not miss you in the place where He has commanded you to be, and does not see (find) you where He has forbidden you from."3 When we attend annual commemorations of the Ahlul-Bayt and other great figures in Islam we cry and weep, but how many of us act upon it? This alone shows the scarcity of faith. We have split personalities. We are devout Muslims in the masjid, but then once we step out, we tend to forget the Prophet (saww) and his universal message. We must act as Muslims 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.
Lastly, we should set our priorities straight. We should grant Islam the right of priority in all matters in life. Our friends should be chosen from their character, the Qur’an should be given its rightful part in our day, the masjid should be attended, etc. By filling in these cracks in our life, we can resist any challenge hurled at us by the ever so dominant society of the West. By mending and bending these weaknesses, we can reach new heights. We would be able to fulfill the message of Islam and lift the banner from under the trampling and raise it to ultimate victory.
Footnotes:
1. Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol.1, p. 204
2. Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 1, p. 17
3. Safinat-ul-Bihar, vol. 2, p. 678
By Ammar A. Naqvi
Last update : 13-11-2003 14:14
|
|
|
Users' Comments  |
|
Average user rating
 (0 vote)
|
|
Add your comment
|
