In today’s complex and competing world, growing up anywhere in the globe is challenging and stressful. But, the tremendous challenges American Muslim youth face are unique. These challenges are not uniformly felt by every young Muslim that is growing up in American as the Muslim youth are not one generic group. There are peculiar challenges for each subset of Muslim youth depending upon if a Muslim youth belongs to one ethnicity, his/her commitment to religion, whether he is born and raised in America or immigrated to America as a child, whether his parents are well of or one of the victims of declining economy.
The African American young Muslim has to face additional challenge of racial profiling. A girl who likes the beauty of modesty of Islam has to battle with the image of beauty that magazines and TV shows have defined for her. A young boy from low-income Muslim parents may find comfort in misguided friends and behavior because of the economic condition of his family and miscommunication with his parents.
Then there are the challenges of the values of society that are either contradicting or conflicting with the basic Islamic tenets like interaction of genders, dating, alcohol and drugs. In response to these challenges, some weaker Muslim youth may develop a double personality due to their loss of identity or sense of insecurity. They may act one way at home but totally opposite when they are with their peers.
The resulting subtle hypocrisy creeps into their soul and is detrimental to their normal growth and development. The biggest challenge in America is for those growing up-Muslims that are really committed in following Islam with its true spirit. Since the hallmark of American society it its economic system that seems to be founded on the idea that life ends with death, a young Muslim does not find himself motivated enough to be involved in the distracting consumer producer cycle that encourages its citizens to follow the never ending desires of buying stuff.
These challenges may be frustrating, demoralizing and discouraging for weaker Muslims but at the same time, they also stimulate, encourage, and create a positive reaction among those with Iman and trust in Allah. The realization that unity and organization are the right response to the propaganda against Islam has led Muslims to come together in the forms of institutions, Islamic schools, and community centers. The youth has played a major role in this process. We were able to cross the cultural, ethnic and linguistic barriers among the Muslims. Now we see young girls and boys learning Islam more eagerly while participating in positive against poverty, sickness, and environmental pollution and
competing in all fields of life, reaching the Ivy League institutions, and contributing to the American society significantly. Indeed these challenges have resulted in creating hope that the Muslim youth will be the beacon of unity and leadership for the Muslim world. Islam had taught us the resilience and patience in the face of challenges as Allah has mentioned in the Quraan:
"Be sure We shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods, lives and the fruits (of your toil), but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere.― (155)
Who say: when afflicted with calamity: "To Allah we belong and to Him is our return." (156)
They are those on whom (descend) blessings from their Lord and Mercy and they are the ones that receive guidance.”
May Allah (SWT) guide us all to the straight path, and help us become a source of unity and leadership for the Ummah. Ameen.
See you soon, inshAllah!
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JJ