YOUTH: THE STRENUOUS STRENGTH


‘’Good habits formed at youth make all the difference.”- Aristotle

Youth is considered to be the backbone of any nation. The level of moral development, civilization and consolidation of authority and potency depends on the morality of its youth. It can be said that nations survive till their ethics live. The question of youth and Islam at present stems from the overwhelming demographic weight of youth and their relatively recent invasion into the public domain, as well as a wave of Islamic revivalism throughout the world. For any society and its future the youth plays vital and integral role both for progress and decline. The reason is that youth can make the future dark or bright through their role as individuals and as active members of society. This paper draws on lively focus group narratives of young Muslims to explore the interactive presentation of Islamic selves. As Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) once said, young people who grew up obeying Allah and following his orders would be among seven categories of people who would be provided shade on judgment day. The Prophet always paid attention and took interest in the young and highlighted them in Islam. Islam has given youth a high status because the development of civilisations and the future of nations is in their hands.

They safeguard its land and build its glory thanks to their open mind, fine thinking, pure hearts, strong arms and will and true faith, Friday’s sermon says.

As a verse from the Quran says: “Indeed, they were youths who believed in their Lord, and We increased them in guidance.”

Islam has given much attention to young people and instructed Muslims to provide them with good education, the sermon says. With good education, they will be healthy in their bodies, believe in Allah the Almighty and be guided with His obedience.

One who follows the right path and obeys Allah since his/her young days is certainly a winner in this life and the hereafter. As Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) once said, young people who grew up obeying Allah and following his orders would be among seven categories of people who would be provided shade on judgment day.

The Prophet always paid attention and took interest in the young and highlighted the importance of youth.

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 die..

Young people are superior in their capabilities and energy. Thus, they are supposed to keep themselves busy with hard work.

“In fact, there is nothing prettier than combining the enthusiasm of the youth with the expertise of the elder.. From this hadith we can easily understand the importance given to youth by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). This is the stage when the Satan easily gains control over the person and leads him to the wrong path. So in this stage the person should be over conscious on the various activities done by him. We just have to give the Satan an inch and he will rule over us.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “There are two blessings which many people lose: (They are) health and free time for doing good.” (Bukhari).From this hadith we should understand that out of the many bounties given by Allah (SWT), free time and health are the precious bounties given by Allah (SWT) and use them for the right purpose. In Surah Al-Asr, Allah (SWT) also emphasizes on the importance of time. But today we see majority of the youth waste their time in doing things which are disliked and prohibited in Islam.

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


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. It might give us material pleasure for some time but they are definitely harmful in the hereafter.Today’s youth should be the “Youth with a mission” – a mission to contribute for Islam. A youth can contribute to Islam by giving his time, talent and money. A youth should also play an important role to bring about a drastic change in society. The youth should work with an objective of making Islam prevalent over all the other ways of life. The youth is the stage of life when the individual should grasp good knowledge about Islam and make effective utilization of the time and talent given by Allah (SWT).

Allah (SWT) says in the Qur’an: “He it is who sent His Messenger with guidance and the true religion so that He may cause it to prevail over all religions and Allah suffices as a witness” (Al-Fath, 48:28).From this verse we come to know as to what was the objective of the Prophet, which should also be the objective of every Muslim. But the today’s youth are living without any objective.  Young people are the cornerstone of society and represent a generational renewal. This is something that has been said so many times, but the reality is that young people are the ones in charge of building a legacy…

As a youth we can make million ordinary ones  to be extraordinary.. Youth and life indeed itself flashes by, in the blink of an eye. That is why you need to ask yourselves what you can do for society and the country. God has vested all power in the hands of the youth so that he can perform his duties effectively. They should start thinking positively and creatively. They must develop the spirit to refute what is wrong in society. .Nothing can underestimate the power of ignited mind of a youth… As the realization that the youth has a voice that a community should listen to; it also presents an avenue through which they can make their voices heard and recognize the power that they have the steering to drive a straight path towards innovation and progression.. All that it is needed is purity in intention and firm belief in Almighty. We can be an advocate of change and be a driver of youth empowerment. Together, we can ensure that our youth are being honed into the leaders that they are . A single mind can construct and same way it can destruct the whole pillar of progression…Be the youth who can change the game if its turning our dreams into nightmares…Be the youth who leave footprints behind so that their upcoming generation can create history rather than cramming the history…


-A.P. WAJIDA PARVEEN

KERALA SHAREEATH ACADEMY WAFIYYA COLLEGE