Dictionary.com defines “self” as a person’s nature and character or the ego; that, which knows, remembers, desires, and suffers.  It refers to the essential qualities that constitute a person’s uniqueness.

Also, the same dictionary describes the word “social” as living in companionship with others or in a community, rather than in isolation. That is a characteristic of living organisms, especially the interaction of humans with other humans in a collective co-existence.

Furthermore, the dictionary definition of “development” is the act of developing; growing or progressing. It is a continuation of steps that lead to improvement.

Development is a broad term and it is different for the individual, family, community, society, or nation. Each one of these categories needs its own development in a different way. For a nation, development means economic, health, technology, military, education/literacy, politics, religion/spirituality, moral, and ethical well being. The country as a whole accomplishes improvement in each area for all of its citizens.  However, family, community and even national development will not be possible without individual development. Thus, for individuals, self development means to have quality education, steady income, stable family, healthy body and sound mind. It also means being intellectually equipped, acting responsibly, and having good etiquette and character, in all his or her daily life activities. What is the significance of individual self and social development? Is there a difference between the two? Can personal self development or social development be enough for a person?

Theoretically, self development is related to the person’s improvement in the educational, economical, and physical growth of the person.  A Person may have high status in all areas of education, health, and financial security. He or she could be seen as a stable person with high principles. He or she could act responsibly, be goal oriented, and possess high management, leadership, and professional skills. This person could be well educated, have a decent job, and high position, but still lack moral character and basic manners. He or she could display dishonesty, meanness, cruelty, cowardice, anger, haste, revenge, miserliness, arrogance, ingratitude, etc. Thus, having higher education, wealth, or position does not make the person superior in their character and how they treat or interact with others without principled social abilities.

On the other hand, social development related to the person’s application on education and material development (self development) within and a mango others. This is highly desired in today’s society. Positive interactions among human beings and with other creatures lead to better understanding and appreciation for one another. A socially skilled person can display competence, politeness, courtesy, cooperation, tolerance, care, and fairness.

All these good traits will not surface if basic self development is missing. The two are inter-independent and material growth is not enough for the kind of development we need today. The relationship here is similar to that of the body and soul. If the body is not there, the soul will not find a home; and if there is no soul, the body will be of no value. These days, people are materialistic and busy with only self development without giving similar care to social development. Material self development without inner purification creates pride and arrogance. The world has made remarkable progress in technology, science, medicine, economics, politics and education in the last century, at the same time, the world faces violence, mass killings, and destruction.

We have to understand that self or social development will not be enough to stop all the injustice, tyranny, oppression, and hunger that characterize our world today – moral and spiritual development is also needed.

Steps Leading the Individual to Self Development

Know yourself: Evaluate yourself in terms of your strengths and weaknesses; what are you capable of and what you are not capable of? What do you like or dislike?

Set Goals/objectives: Have desired ending points; what do you want? Why do you want it? Where do you want to be? How do you get there? These are really the basics of everything we do. This self examination gives us a sense of ownership, which will lead us to think once more our purpose in this life as well. It is the starting point for one’s long journey. It determines one’s future to the path of brightness or darkness. Many people underestimate this important point, so they end up doing things without purpose. There must be destination or goal for whatever we do.

Time management: Time is the most precious possession an individual can have. One must learn time management skill to get to his or her goals. You have to organize, prioritize, and utilize your time in the best possible manner. You have to know every second, minute, hour, day, month, and year of your time is important.  In fact, your time is your life. It is your existence. The minute you do not have time means you have died.

Effort: This means diligently working hard to the best of your ability to make sure the goals you set out are met. ‘Amr Khaled, one of the renowned Muslim preachers once said, “Goals without efforts are dreams, while efforts without goals are nothing. But goals with efforts lead to success”. It was also reported that Imam Ash-Shafi’i said that, anyone who wants to achieve a higher level of success will stay up long nights.

Opportunity: This is a chance for progress and achievement. You must utilize and use the opportunity as if you will never get it again. Use your youthfulness, chance, health, wealth, and life well. Seek knowledge and study hard; work as best as you can. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “Benefit from five before five; Your youth before you become old age; Your health before you fall sick Your wealth before your poverty; Your free time before you become busy; And your life before your death.”

Mentor or teacher (murabbi): This status is obtained through learning. Without having a good educator who guides you through the way, you will not be able to gain the education you want to place you in higher level. This educator is not only a teacher who gives you instructions or lessons but he or she is more than a teacher – act as a friend, role-model, parent-figure – a person with whom you can establish long life friendship.

Education: Training is the gateway to good and enduring life. It is the cornerstone for individual, family, community, or nations’ progress in health, literacy, technology, security and economic security. It is mandatory for everyone to peruse it. It is the light of life. Educate yourself through learning, efforts, relationships, and friendships.

Physical fitness: This pertains to the body’s health and will help you to reach your goals. Eating healthy food and having routine exercise and checkups are prerequisites for healthier body that is the vehicle for the rest of you to move.

Steps Leading the Individuals to Social Development 

Etiquette: This is a code of behavior that is acceptable within a society, social class or group. It is the rules of social interactions that allow the individual to interact with others within the norms of the society. Etiquette involves the general life of the individual.

Discipline: This is behavior according to specific rules of conduct. It involves speech and communication, eating and drinking, standing and walking, listening and sleeping, learning and working, etc.

Spirituality: This pertains to soul or mind that reflects ton the body. Peace has several levels – internal and external. By the same token, there is individual peace and communal or collective peace. Without internal peace, external peace will not be possible. Similarly, without individual peace, communal peace will not be possible as well.  When an individual is peaceful to his or herself (internal), he/she will be peaceful to the rest of the society (external). Spiritual development brings internal peace, which leads to external peace. As a result, spiritual development will help one to achieve peaceful life with the external world.

Ethical/moral: This pertains to right and wrong in conduct. It gives you the self-esteem and personal confidence you need to lead a life of high standards.

Friends and Companions: It is good to have a favorite friend – those with whom you share principle and values. You gain and give through the mutual friendship. Having a good friend will help you with both self and social development.

Sacrifice and Service: This is where you learn life experiences by giving back, creating bonds and associations, networks and affiliations for your future life endeavors.  This is where you develop your social skills through listening and acceptance of diversity. Build up you resume, and feel good with your life. You feel great when you give back and help another human being.

Even though the general definition is similar on spiritual development in deferent religions and systems, however, the linkage between the two (body & soul) is greatly different. Some view that one cannot equally develop body and soul, and must attend to one at the expense of the other. Thus, one either has to be a secular, who focuses only on worldly materialism with injustice, tyranny, or lead an ascetic life, where normal life is against their spiritual development. Thus, in our society, it seems like we are in two camps: one, in which immorality, injustice, and greed are the base – upon which the majority of the world is based on. The other, is one, in which the individual withdraws him or herself from the society and everyday life. Both of these camps are wrong and against the nature of the world.  Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Seven things will destroy us: wealth without work, pleasure without conscience, knowledge without character, business without morality, science without humanity, religion without sacrifice, politics without principles.”  If we look at this quote, we will find seven opposing the other seven. Thus, the first seven pertains to body or derived from the physical activities, whereas the other seven pertain to the spiritual, inner self. In other words, the first seven are external, while the second seven are internal. Thus, achieving only physical development will lead to being materialistic and greedy; as the result, one lives only for his/her pleasure.  By the same token, thinking only of inner self, and disconnecting from the rest of the world will end up isolated and ineffective.   None of these life styles provide peace and balance, which are opposite of violence and extremism, which characterized our world today. The Islamic viewpoint on spiritual development is totally different from these two camps.

Allah said, “But seek, with that (wealth) which Allah has bestowed on you, the home of the Hereafter, and forget not your portion of legal enjoyment in this world, and do good as Allah has been good to you, and seek not mischief in the land. Verily, Allah likes not the Mufsidun (those who commit great crimes and sins, oppressors, tyrants, mischief-makers, corrupts).” 28:77.

Islam does not view spirituality separate from everyday life activities.

The word “Islam” comes from the Arabic root, silm, which means both peace and submission to the will of the Creator. Peace has several levels – internal peace and external peace. In the same token, there are individual peace and communal or collective peace, as the two interdependent. Thus Without internal peace, external peace will not be possible. Similarly, without individual peace, communal peace will not be possible as well.  When an individual is peaceful to his or herself (internal), he/she will be peaceful to the rest of the society (external). Thus, spiritual development will make one to achieve peaceful life (external world) and is bonded with principles and ethics.  Spiritual development brings internal peace, which leads to external peace.  The society is made up individuals, who make families, families who make communities and communities who make society.  If the individual does not have inner peace, or spiritually developed, they will not be able to create peaceful families who display compassion, love, respect, tolerance, and understanding. On the other hand, if the individual has inner-peace or spiritual development, he/she will create families who display compassion, love, tolerance, and understanding. Then, these families will create strong communities, which leads to creating a balanced society where universal humanity, perseverance, cooperation, unity, and justice are the norms.

How to Attain Spiritual Development in Islam

Islam is both a religion and a way of life, for it provides its followers step-by-step guidance for daily activities to attain spiritual development.

Iman (Faith): Belief in God, Angels, Divine Books, Prophets and Messengers, Day of Judgment and Devine Fate- affirming strongly in our hearts that this is the gateway entry for our spiritual development.

‘Ibadah (Worship): an act of devotion in all what we say and do including prayer, fasting, charity, pilgrimage with humility, sincerity, dedication, excellence, and constant supplication. This way, one realizes and actualizes his or her purpose in this world, which is to worship Allah, “And I (Allah) created not the jinns and humans except they should worship Me (Alone).” (51:56).

Taqwa (God-Consciousness): the obedience to the rules of Islam while avoiding forbidden, and abstaining from unsuitable things in life. Allah said, “O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is (he who has) the most Taqwa from among you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things).” (49:13)

Birr (Righteousness): living life that is good and beneficial that pleases Allah. God said  ”It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces Towards east or West; but it is righteousness- to believe in Allah and the Last Day, and the Angels, and the Book, and the Messengers; to spend of your substance, out of love for Him, for your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the ransom of slaves; to be steadfast in prayer, and practice regular charity; to fulfill the contracts which ye have made; and to be firm and patient, in pain (or suffering) and adversity, and throughout all periods of panic. Such are the people of truth, the pious.” (2:177)

Ihsan (Excellence): perfection and excellence in everything we do – in words, deeds and thoughts, which means, doing things sincerely, completely, nicely, and correctly. Allah said, “Verily, Allah orders justice (‘Idli) and perfection (Ihsan) and giving help to kith and kin (family and relative)” (16:90).

Ikhlas (Sincerity): all we do and say must be sincere to God with intention. Allah said, “They were only ordered to worship Allah, making their din sincerely His as people of pure natural pure belief, and to establish the prayer and pay charity – that is the deen of the correct.” (98:5)

‘Ita’a (Obedience to Parents):  after Allah and His messengers’ obedience, one has to obey his/her parents whether they are dead or alive, not only accepting their words and requests, but one would be available and ready for them before their request and need. Allah said, Your Lord has decreed that you worship nothing but Him, and that you be kind to parents. Whether one or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word for contempt, nor repel them but address them in terms of honor. And, out of kindness, lower to them wing of humility, and say: My Lord! Bestow on them Your mercy, even as they cherished me in childhood”. (17:23-14))

Akhlaq (Character/Manners): have and display traits, habits and qualities of truthfulness, trustworthiness, honesty, keeping promises and secrets, integrity, courage, cleanliness, smiles, modesty, diligence, positive thinking as well as,  displaying the etiquette of good appearance/dress, speech, eating, sleep, prayer, gratitude, serving, respecting and kind to all parents, teachers, elders, guests, and others as well. Also, avoid stealing, cheating, backbiting, cursing, envy, jealousy, show off, greed and hostility, ignorance and pride, selfishness, laziness, rudeness, misery, overeating, too much laughter, negative thinking, while controlling anger, repelling evil with good.  Prophet (pbuh) said, “The best amongst you are those who have the best manners and character”.

Muhasaba (Honest Self Assessment): a process of looking at oneself (spiritual, time, education, family, skills, health, financial, values and identity, needs and interests, goals and priorities, others) asking critical questions, what did I (accomplish/fail last year, month, week, and day)? what do I need to change or keep next week, month and year (s) in order one to move forward for a better future? The prophet (pbuh) said, “The intelligent one controls himself and acts according to what is coming after death; while he who is weak and unable to control himself allows himself to indulge in his lower desires, asking Allah to fulfill his wishes.”

Education: it is a starting point and key foundation to move and accomplish on anything. It gives us the ability to understand our above obligations as it enables us to follow them in accordance with their appropriate rules.  Allah said, “And of men and Ad-Dawab (moving living creatures, beasts, etc.), and cattle, in like manner of various colours. It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allah. Verily, Allah is All-Mighty, Oft-Forgiving”. (5:28).

Other essentials to increase Spiritual Development: remembrance of Allah in every step that we take and everything we do physically or mentally; reading and reflecting upon the Quran; helping those who in need and specially, orphans, widows, elders, by all, food, cloth, shelter, knowledge and advice; invoking Allah more in all and every step we take; reflection upon the creation; having good friends; more education and reading as well as more voluntary deeds.

Ending
Humanity is passing through a critical stage in its development with so much conflict and violence going. We need to go back to faith and develop our physical and spiritual needs in a balanced way.

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the Universe. Prayer and peace be upon Prophet Muhammad, his family, companions, and whoever follows them rightly until the Day of Judgment.  Similarly

The word “Islam” comes from the Arabic word of silm. It means both peace and submission to the will of one Creator-Allah. Peace has several levels and categories, Internal peace and external peace, as both interconnected. In the same token, there are individual peace and communal or collective peace, as the two interdependent. Thus Without internal peace, external peace will not possible, similarly, without individual peace, communal or collective peace will not be possible as well.  When one is peaceful to his or her self, they surely will be peaceful to the rest of the society/world. Islam is a religion, but at the same time it is a way of life, for it provides to its followers step-by-step guidance for daily life/activities. In order to get external or collective peace, internal or individual peace has to come first. Remembrance of Allah is the most powerful weapon that give us the internal/individual peace which we lead us to attain the collective peace that all of us looking for.

Abdullah ibn Busr said, “A man came to the Prophet peace be upon him and said, ‘Messenger of Allah, the laws of Islam have become too many for us, so [give us] a means of access to which we can cling which is comprehensive.’ He said, ‘Let not your tongue cease to be moist with the remembrance of Allah, mighty is He and majestic’.

Mu’ad ibn Jabal said, “The last thing upon which I parted from the Messenger of Allah peace be upon him is that I said to him, ‘Which actions are better and closer to Allah?’ He answered, ‘That you die while your tongue is moist with the remembrance of Allah, mighty is He and majestic’.

Allah says, exalted is He:

“You who have iman! remember Allah much, and glorify Him in the morning and the evening,” (al-Ahzab: 41)

Another verse, “And remember Allah much so that hopefully you will be successful,” (Al-Jumu’ah: 10)

Another verse, “Men and women who remember Allah much: Allah has prepared forgiveness for them and an immense reward,”( al-Ahzab: 35)

Another verse, “Those who remember Allah, standing, sitting and lying on their sides.” ( Al ‘Imran: 191)

I have been teaching at Salahudin Islamic School at Islamic Civic Society of America, for a number of years. I often prepared supplications and remembrance on different occasions that I gave to the students. After collecting the information, and having seen the needs of the students and the general public, I decided to write a book titled, Your Daily Guidance.

In this small book but comprehensive, one will find remembrance and daily guidance of over 50 different occasions.

According to infoplease.com profile of the world, the estimated distance of world area is 510.072 million sq. km. with 148.94 million sq. km. being land area, while 361.132 million sq. km. is water. 79.9% of the world is water, whereas 29.1% is land. However, in today’s technology, distance would not even matter. The world has become much smaller and one can know very much of what is going on around the globe quickly with modern means of communication. With all the technology, science, health, and sophistication that we reached, there are immense problems in the world. Among the most pressing issues are war, violence, diseases, poverty, and human rights violations/repressions. The nations of the world, Western, Muslims and others alike share these problems generally.

The Western World

The western world made tremendous progresses in terms of tackling these above issues. Overall, the societies of these nations are enjoying stable life at least materialistically. They are in the process of providing security, rights, food and health care for every citizen in their countries. We know for example, in the United States, all these above are the rights of its entire people.

The Muslim World

The Muslim world faces the challenges of war, poor healthcare, poverty and violations of human rights, illiteracy, lack of progress, dictatorship, lack of political transparency, ethnic conflict, and regional divisions.  Illiteracy is a problem in majority of Muslim countries. We know all these problems are interconnected.  The lack of literacy leads to lack of progress, and lack of progress leads to lack of development, which leads to dictatorship, which in turn leads to lack of political transparency, which also leads to power struggles that lead to regional divisions and ethnic conflict.  Majority of the Muslim world today is characterized by these aliments. This can raise a legitimate question of why the Muslim world is behind its Western counterpart. Is it because of Islam? Unless one knows the history of the world; the true examples of Muslim leaders; the difference between Islam and culture – it is hard to know why the Muslim world is so behind the Western world.  Thus, Islamophobes blame Islam as the cause of the backwardness of Muslim nations. But the reality is contrary to that.  Islam is a religion of progress, innovation, and development. It is a religion of every generation, time, and location. It is a religion of civilization; it is a way of life.

It must be noted that the Islamic Caliphate collapsed in 1924. Naturally, when a civilization collapses, another one rises. When Europeans took the power, unlike the Islamic Caliphate, they created a new imperial power engaged in slavery and colonization. In fact, the Islamic Caliphate almost eradicated these practices after the Romans and Persians. The European conquerors focused a lot on the Middle East, Africa, and South America. They did not conquer the lands only, but they enslaved the people as well. They divided the same native and homogeneous nations into enclaves and different nations. In the 1950s, there were uprisings for independence against these colonial powers. After heavy struggles, the colonial powers were forced to leave many countries. However, they only left physically but stayed there intellectually and psychologically. In other words, they handed the rule and the government affairs to their chosen representatives or puppet regimes. Thus, the people in many countries never got real independence.

This actually creates a contradictory situation of government against its people and people against their government. People see the government as their number one enemy, while the government sees its own people as enemies. This led the government to not allow any political parties other then the ruling party. Corruption, totalitarian dictatorship and deprivation of basic human rights such as education, freedom of speech, free enterprise, political participation, to name a few became the normal practice of governments. Sadly, the people attack and see the government property as stolen from them. People loot the school and hospital equipments because of the resentment against their government.

Therefore, when the government and its people are not cooperative in running their affairs and there is dishonesty, chaos and lack of development become the norms for these countries. This leads to low human development index, which is measured by three indicators – life expectancy at birth, (long and healthy life), literacy, and income. The majority of Muslim nations fall in the low middle or bottom of the list in all these indicators according to the UN report on Human Development Index.  In United Nations report in 2009 on least and most corrupted nations, again majority of Muslim countries fell in the top of the list for corruptions. The UN report on 2006 of the most and least livable countries in the world, again none of the Muslim countries made the list of most livable countries. IslamicGlory.com reported the following statistics, even though the reality on the ground may be different than what the statistics show, nevertheless, there are immense co-relations between these statistics and conditions of Muslim countries.

In the entire Muslim World (57 Muslim Countries), there are around 500 universities. On the other hand, there are 5,758 universities in the USA alone, and 8,407 universities in India. In a research done by the UNDP in 2004, not one university in the entire Muslim world was featured in the top 500 ranking universities of the world. Literacy in the western world, predominantly Christian, is 90%, whereas the literacy of the Muslim world is 40%. Furthermore, 98% of these predominantly Western countries completed at least primary education, whereas only 50% of Muslim countries completed primary education. Similarly, 40% of western countries attended university, whereas only 2% of Muslim countries attended university.  The Muslim majority countries have 230 scientists in every one million people, whereas, USA alone has 5,000 scientists in every one million. Muslim countries spend on research 0.2% of their GDP, whereas, Western countries spend 5% of their GDP on research. There is a huge gap on the number of sick people to the number of doctors. For example, in Indonesia, there are about 10,000 patients for every one doctor, whereas, in Spain, there are about 500 sick people for every one doctor.  In 1995, the average yearly income per citizen in Pakistan was $300, whereas in Britain it is more than $ 12,000.  Registered patent in 1995 in Egypt is 77, whereas it is 7,652 in Israel.

The majority of the responsibility for this lack of human development in Muslim countries is to be blamed on Muslims themselves. After all, these are their countries and their affairs. However, what is shocking is the hypocrisy and double standard of the United States Policy towards these courtiers.  Even though, the conditions of majority of Muslim countries are the same, we will take Egypt as an example because of the recent Revolution. President Hosni Mubarak ruled Egypt for about 30 years before he was forced out by popular uprising in February, 2011. During those 30 years, America had five Presidents. We know Hosni Mubarak was a repressive, authoritarian dictator, who killed, tortured, imprisoned, and exiled thousands of his own people, while he kept millions of others in sub-humane conditions. The Egyptian people rose up to Mubarak’s regime after many years of humiliation. In this uprising for basic life, hundreds were killed while thousands were injured. American ABC television reported that Mubarak’s family may have up to 70 billion dollars and his assets were scattered around the world –  from New York, Los Angeles, California, Dubai, Landon and Paris. Five Million Egyptians live in the dead city in inadequate houses. The average Egyptians work for $400 a month and if Mubarak’s 70 billion dollars were divided among 80 million Egyptians, each will get $843. The United States reiterated numerous times that Hosni Mubarak is a key ally of stability in the region. This shows the United Sates deception on the claim for democracy and pro-human rights. In reality, American politicians work behind the scenes on ways to keep Mubarak until they find replacement for another 30 years. On the other hand, they dishonestly put on the headlines the message of fear of the Muslim Brotherhood participating in the political process. What if the Egyptian people chose the Muslim Brotherhood in fair election? Isn’t the Muslim Brotherhood part of the fabric of Egyptian society? In the worst scenario, is the Muslim Brotherhood farther than the Tea Party in the US elections? This indicates that the US administration is enjoying the suffering of millions of Egyptians who live on a $1 a day in sub-poverty levels; thousands of Egyptians to be illiterate; hundreds of Egyptians to die from preventable diseases; millions more to be unemployed; and thousands of human activists, innocent citizens, political figures to be tortured, abused, exiled and their basic human rights denied.

What the American government does not understand is that the Muslim world will never be the same again. First, technology has made communication more effective. For example, the Egyptian people tried to revolt many times in the past, but they did not get the means for the outside world to hear. But at this time Al-Jazeera, Facebook, Twitter, and Google to name a few – made it possible to organize the movement for change. Second, the Muslim world has a large number of young people, with technological skills. So, they will never accept to live in sub-human conditions while their Western counterparts enjoy freedom. Third, the USA’s credibility in the Muslim world is really at stake for its unethical preemptive wars and renditions. Thus, the US needs to re-evaluate its policy towards these countries.  The puppet regimes in the Middle East are getting old, and they are despised by their people. Replacements which the West and Israel are trying to find will not be accepted by young Muslim generations. They will only accept representative government that comes to power through free and fair elections.

Somalia, a tiny country in the Horn of East Africa with rich of natural sources, once used to be called the “paradise of Africa” has lost itself in the eyes of the international and local community. A war has been going on for about 20 years, and children who were born at the beginning of the civil war have kids now. Many Somali families/parents fled with their children from this hostile environment, in which no one no longer knows who is to blame for committing this calamous crime. Many of these families fled to many parts of the world, and many of them chose to come to Minnesota, United States of America, to have a basic life of education, freedom, food and shelter for their children. Many needs such as education and work were acquired, even though many negatives arose, and outcomes did not come as was expected.

Young People, 2007-2008

However, what is going on with the lives of Somali youngsters for the last couple of years has been shocking and outrageous to many of us. About seven Somali boys lost their lives in shootings from other local Somali boys. The number of drop outs in schools is high rocketing among Somali teenagers, robberies and other mischievous actions are unimaginable to be mentioned here. Jails are filled up by Somali youngsters and studies show the number of Somali youngsters in jails have increased in double digits since the last couple of years. Many others are lost in the middle, hanging outside with no value in this life. Lack of parental care and communication, positive role models within the community, failure of public school systems to accommodate their needs, to be named of few, are to blame for these causes.

Young People, 2008-2009

As the community grieves the loss of these young men, and uncertain future of many others, the community encounters another dreadful dilemma, in which is yet not known for its bases. 2008-2009, Somali young men have gone back to Somalia to fight in the civil war. However, there are no clear answers to some basic questions such as why they have left until now and investigation is still going on. Somali people have had enough difficulties already abroad and back home, a whole society with no functioning government for about two decades, one can imagine how serious the conditions of such people are. Everything, including the rule of law, has been eradicated because of lack of order everybody does anything he or she wants.

Young People, 2010

As the community grieves, another despicable act arise, Human tracking for commercial sex, Somali girls by Somali boys. It is a phenomenon of shock, taboo and unacceptable both religiously and culturally. Anyone who knows the situation of the young people probably knows the state of many of them.  There are too many catastrophic cases with young people from killing to radicalization to drop outs to adultery to robbery, but this is just part of a bigger problem that the community is facing as whole, and still in as state of denial  to acknowledge and look for the correct way to solve it. If the following areas are not urgently corrected more faces will be shown in the media soon and calamity will even be bigger than what we thought.

Financial Corruption: There are corruptions on welfare systems, tax return, business, and care systems, such as home health care whether senior or child care.

Corruptions on Social affairs: Division, disunity, and envy are social norms. Political confusion and tribalism are daily talk. Sitting in star bucks and malls to talk about the crisis in Somalia, to add fuel the already burring fires is normal life style for many men. Unemployment rate is very high, where many are unable to allocate a job. Both divorce and children of single parents, bachelorism and unmarried young adults are all high.

Corruptions on Education: Drop outs from academic schools to Islamic education are out of hands. Students are graduating from high schools without a proper and adequacy knowledge and many of them ended up not succeeding in collages. The number of young people who are either drop outs or do not start school in the first place are getting high day after day.

Misunderstanding and Twisting on Islam itself: Religion suppose to be preventing people from all above mischievousness, but unfortunate religion is misused. It was the only thing that we have left, and we know how Islam is being manipulated. Islam was understood only for blaming and killing others.  Islam was misunderstood completely, what a catastrophic and a loss. 

Recommendations:

The issues and problems are immense and complicated, but everything has a solution as the prophet (pbuh) said, every disease has a cure. Therefore, the following would be cure for the above ailments

1.      To understand Islam as once’ way of life. In many cases people are trying to disassociate Islam from their daily lives.

2.       To understand that Islam is for all, and not for a group or ethnicity and that Allah is the provider and sustainer of this world

3.      To understand that Islam is a contemporary religion that is applicable to our lives every time, location and situation.  That means, it is not hard nor does it contradict to our lives. It is a religion of every century and generation. Taken Islam as your way of life enables you to

a.       build one’s relationship with the Creator

b.      understand and be honest with oneself

c.        build good relationship with once’ family relative,  friends and societies

4.      To understand that Allah created this world for everyone and that we need coexistence and collaboration

5.      To understand that this country is our country and we need to be a good participants and citizens of this country.

6.      We need to take the responsibility, and be honest to ourselves and stop being in denial. We do not even admit to our mistakes, which is not acceptable for both Islamically and the country’s legal system. For example, when Somali boys were killing other Somali boys, if we could have told the law enforcement who were the killers from the beginning, we could have solved many problems. Now, the case of human trafficking for commercial sex, we are still in denial. Another case will come; we will be still in denial? Dar Al-Hijrah Youth Council made play couple years ago on how our youth went three different directions, before even boys were killed or went to Somalia to participate in the civil war, before the sex ring,.  Some people said to (DYC), “You guys are saying something bad about our community, do not tell this to none-Somalis. This shows, we are not facing the reality, we are in denial.

7.      We need to support those who are doing good for the community and for the society in general.

8.      We need to be proactive and not reactive, making responds only when it is  too late to do anything from it

9.      We need to be serious for our children’s education and their life affairs

a.      What do they learn? Whom do they hung out with/ their friends? What do they want?

10.   Leaders, educators, elders and Imams should provide the community

a.      a sense of leadership

b.      agenda and curriculum on

• how to adapt the system and  live  the country while at same time preserving the identity of Islam to the fullest

• how to participate and learn from the good things from this country while avoiding bad things at same time

• how to benefit the opportunities of this country and at same time contribute to the country positively

c.       give confidence and assurance to live good life in this country because we know for a fact, majority of us are not going back either any time soon or never

We need to develop a sense of belonging and loyalty where we live

It is a cliché to say that education is imperative, because everyone knows that education is a key for our survival in this life. It is a fact that education provides for its individual a sense of stability, financially, security and most importantly direction and freedom.  We all know that educated person will be placed a higher position than uneducated person in this life and next life as well. We also know that when literacy is low in a country that country will never make same progress than a country, which its citizens have high literacy rate. However, in this short note, I am not talking about literate versus illiterate. I am talking about the hardship and confusion for Muslim families in the U.S. especially immigrants who do not have financial capability to send their children in Islamic schools regarding their children’s religious education. I have been teaching Salahudin weekend Islamic school for the past 10 years. The school comes under the Islamic Civic Society of America, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Based on my experience and knowledge on weekend schools in the twin cities and in the state, Salahudin School is one of the most successful weekend schools without doubt. During its existence, more than 50 students finished Quran, in addition to high rich Islamic education. Not only many students become successful in terms of Quran, but many of them become presidents of their college MSAs’ and student organizations in various higher institutions because of the knowledge and guidance they received while they were in Salahudin. It was part of the organization and school’s identity and purpose to educate students in a religiously but also to educate them so that they become a conscious, successful, and productive citizens who possess the leadership skills to face future challenges.  It is true that a good guided religious person acquires the preceding adjectives and even more.

Students’ Attitude towards Weekend Islamic Schools vs. Academic Schools

In addition to all the above achievements, there are enormous challenges facing weekend Islamic schools, finishing Quran, and comprehending the reading and writing of Arabic language take students longer than usual. In addition, the hesitance and the lack of students’ interest to learn and eagerness to take more classes as well as the gap between the students and parents are all undeniable.  However, when it comes to academic schools, students are opposite of what is described above in most cases, students love and they are enthusiastic about the school. They are interested about the school and are ready to challenge themselves to enroll higher and harder classes.

Causes

Students face multiple challenges that cause and trigger their low successes in Islamic field such as lack of tools for learning, activities, unappealing spaces in Islamic schools, inability and lack of parents’ guidance and involvement on their children’s education, lack of knowledge, experience and training from the teachers themselves. Those are common noticeable elements, but there is one that sums up all these where many people do not pay attention to (the time). Despite that schools provide buses, full meals throughout the day, trained teachers, full parental involvement, great spaces and activities, while Weekend Islamic schools provide none of these. The schools are packed by powerful government while weekend Islamic schools are owned nobody except the poor community who do not even know if they are the owners or not.

Time they spend on school and related work vs. Time they spend on weekend Islamic schools

The time that students spend on Islamic weekend schools is really short comparing to hours they spend on academic schools.  Most weekend schools are either go afternoons or mornings of Saturdays & Sundays. In the morning, they usually come 8:00-8:30 am and finish at 12:00pm, and after group come 1:30-2:00pm and finish at 5:00pm. Therefore, most weekend schools spend 3-3:30 hours in school. Since, this is two days, Saturday and Sunday only, students spend 7 ½ hours a week in weekend schools. On the other hand, students spend in school on average of 8 hours in class for five days; they also go to library, to do homework and other extra curricula outside the classrooms, where they usually spend no time outside the class for weekend Islamic schools.

Since they go five days a week for eight hours a day and 2 hours related school work per day. They spend 8×5, which is 40 hours in class and 10 hours of outside of class in related school work per week.  Therefore, they spend 50 hours a week in school, whereas, they spend 7 hours on weekend Islamic schools a week. If we further calculate, we know that most schools start on first week of September and go until June of the following year. It is about 9 months; however, we will calculate how many days and hours in school years and to be fair, we subtract the days and hours that students are not in school including weekends and holidays. Minneapolis public schools, the 8^th of June is the last day of school year. The days of these 9 months in the school year are 304 days. We subtract 23 days of June, since, school ends 8^th day of June, 10 days of winter break, five days of spring break and other 14 days of professional conference, holidays and record keeping days.

The total days of 9 months are 304 days minus 51 days of none- school days equal to 253 days. We subtract 80 days of (weekends) from these days (253), it comes on 173 days. We know that students spend in school each one of these days 8 hours in class and two hours outside the class in school related work. This comes to 10 hours a day. The Total days of 173x 10 of total hours a day, this is equal to 1,730 hours for the school year.  The weekend days for the school year is 80 days, we know that student spend in weekend Islamic school 3 ½ hours a day, this is equal to 280 hours for the school year.  The difference is 1,450 hours.

In today’s world, the role and responsibilities of an individual, family, community, and nation are mixed up. Also, right and wrong are blended and it is difficult to differentiate them. The religion and purpose of life are misunderstood. Every corner of the world is burning with the flames of injustice, economic inequality, and racial disparities, persecution of religion, and ethnicity to name some of the issues afflicting the Muslim world.  No one is taking care of the problems Muslims are facing. Everyone is trying to write the prescription. This is like someone prescribing medicine that he or she never learned or heard of. In other words, everyone is giving fatwa (religious edict) without enough knowledge. In a country like the U.S., one cannot open a clinic or give prescription unless he or she is certified from an accredited institution. Unfortunately, Muslims do not have an oversight agency due to lack of central authority. Extremists have benefited from the chaotic state of affairs in the Muslim world. Extremists who are committing violent acts in the name of our religion abuse Islam. Articles and videos from Islamic Workplace show that terrorists kill more Muslims than non-Muslims. 85% of people killed by Al-Qaida between 2004 and 2008 have been Muslims.

People with hardliner views are everywhere. Last week, when some Muslim leaders attended an interfaith program with Minnesotans of other faiths to support Muslims in the U.S. about the increasing Islamophobia. People with extreme accused the scholars and Muslims in the Twin Cities of apostasy (or losing their faith). This begs the question; can Muslims and people of other faiths live together peacefully?

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) motivated by the general welfare of citizens of Medina, commenced to establish regular and clearly defined relations between Muslims and non-Muslim communities in Medina.

The arrangements that the Prophet (pbuh) made regarding the rights of protection, security, peace, justice, duties of all citizens of Medina and the relationship between the Muslims and non Muslim communities are embodied in a document which has come to be known as The Constitution of Medina. The following points are from a long document of Medina constitution that the Prophet (pbuh) authorized:

1. The Jews are one community with the believers (the Jews have their religion and the Muslims have theirs), their freedmen and their persons except those who behave unjustly and sinfully, for they hurt but themselves and their families.
2. The Jews must bear their expenses and the Muslims their expenses. Each must help the other against anyone who attacks the people of this document. They must seek mutual advice and consultation, and loyalty is a protection against treachery. A man is not liable for his ally’s misdeeds. The wronged must be helped.
3. Yathrib [Medina] shall be a sanctuary for the people of this document.
4. A stranger under protection shall be as his host doing no harm and committing no crime.
5. The contracting parties are bound to help one another against any attack on Yathrib (Medina).
6. This deed [document] will not protect the unjust and the sinner. The man who goes forth to fight and the man who stays at home in the city are safe unless he has been unjust and sinned. God is the protector of the good and God-fearing man and Muhammad is the apostle of God.

Omar bin Al-Khatab was the second Caliph of the Muslims after the Prophet, peace be upon him died. During Omar’s leadership, Islam spread to many parts of the world mostly not by violence, but by the character of Muslims. After its conquest, Omar visited Jerusalem at the request of its inhabitants, mostly Christians. Caliph Omar was invited to a Christian church, and he stayed in the church until the afternoon prayer. The priest of the church told Omar to pray in the church. However, Omar told the priest “I do not want to pray in here because if I pray in the church, I am afraid that some Muslims, after me, will use my prayer as an excuse to take the church from you.” The Caliph then signed the following treaty.

1. From the servant of Allah and the Commander of the Faithful, Omar: The inhabitants of Jerusalem are granted security of life and property. Their churches and crosses shall be secure. This treaty applies to all people of the city. Their places of worship shall remain intact. These shall neither be taken over nor pulled down. People shall be free to follow their religion. They shall not be put to any trouble.

Islam is not the idea of a person and these preceding examples are enough for us. Whoever does not agree or follow the Prophet (pbuh) and rightly guided caliphate is basically misrepresenting Islam. The Prophet never sent troops unless he admonished them to not kill priests, women, children, and farmers or destroy places of warship, general public places such as hospitals, schools, etc. Islam is very clear and we all know the examples and behaviors of the Prophet (pbuh) towards people of other faiths.

The outlaw group who called Muslims of Minnesota and their scholars murtads (apostates) surely have other agendas. This is because Minnesota Muslims clearly stood against extremism and terrorism of Al-Qaeda and Al-Shabab views.  This outlaw group is simply not happy about the unity of Muslims and their actions to stop anti-Islam, anti-Muslim and anti-humanity threats. If going to church to talk and interact with non-Muslims makes someone non- Muslim is unheard. Churches and non-Muslim religious organizations brought many Somalis to the U.S. Not only did they bring refugees but still provide social services to Muslim immigrants. The Counties help the new comers with housing, healthcare, education, food stamps, and cash. If presenting Islam to non-Muslims makes people to become non-Muslims, do they not know that they went to a church just to come to U.S or their memory is all of sudden lost?

The same individuals who called Muslims in Minnesota murtadeen (apostates) were using the pulpit of the Mosque to attack fellow Muslims, causing immense defamation and character assassination to respected leaders. The same individual was the one who called police to scholars and Muslims in weekend school some years back.  The issue here is not about religion. It is about the same problem that is going on in Somalia. The same people, who destroyed Somalia, called everyone non-Muslims, participated in all the civil wars are trying to damage the image of Muslims in Minnesota. If the community is not careful, they may cause our Islamic centers, mosques, and institutions to be closed. These are the same ideas and actions of Al-Shabab leaders like Ahmed Godane and Mukhtar Robow. First, they call people non-Muslim, and then killed them, bomb the mosques, schools, and displace the whole population. If this same person who is calling people to be non-Muslim had the means, he would have physically hurt his opponents. If he were not scared of the U.S. laws, he would have called upon all these people whom he is calling non-Muslim to be eliminated.

Extremism is described as actions or ideologies of individuals or groups outside the perceived political center of a society; or otherwise claimed to violate common moral standards. In other words, it is excessive actions or opinions of fanatical method of behavior.

This dangerous idea is not new to Muslims – it existed since the Prophet’s time.  They accused the Prophet of not acting justly. When Omar bin Al-Khattab asked the Prophet a permission to take action after they accused the Prophet for not acting justly, the Prophet said just leave them, “He has friends whose worshipping exceeds yours, and whose fasting is better than yours and they recite the Qur’an but it does not go beyond their collar bones.” Deviations are as a result of weak, twisted, and impotent understanding.

The Prophet (pbuh) judged some people to be misguided and that they were the worst of creatures even though they did many acts of worship such as prayers, fasting, and reciting the Qur’an.

Some of their characteristics include: declaring people to be unbelievers including Muslim authorities/leaders, fighting against Muslims or anyone that has different views from theirs.  The ideology that promotes hate and violence is not part of Islam, no more than excessive and deviation from the path of majority of Muslims. Unfortunately, these days many people are using the name of the religion to fulfill their political agenda and to promote their hate message to the community. And if the Muslims do not stand shoulder to shoulder to stop this virus idea, it will create more problems. This corrupted ideology is connected to the (khawarij sect) in early days of Islam. They killed the Islamic leader, Ali bin Abi Talib (r’a). This type of extremism puts much emphasis on minor issues based on their narrow understanding.  They make anyone who does not fit their profile out of the religion. That attitude is unwise in an interdependent world.

Proper understanding leads to correct action, proper application and avoiding pitfalls. ‘Omar Ibn Abdul-Aziz said, “If a person does something without understanding, he causes more harm than good.”

They are missing the whole value and principles of Islam, which are moderation, tolerance, cooperation, justice, equality, and peace. The main objectives of Islam are protection of religion, life, property, intellect and dignity. They are missing authority and order of Islam such as who is gives fatwa (religious rulings) within Islamic guidelines. Giving fatwa is not an easy task. One has to take into consideration the place, the time, the people and the situation; therefore, only a trained mufti can give fatwa.

The renowned scholar, Dr. Yusuf Al-Qardawi said, “The method that I’ve employed over the course of my entire life is: That I seek to build and I don’t destroy, I unify and I don’t divide; I leave [other scholars] to make their own choices, and I will not force my opinions and legal conclusions on them, nor will I let them force me to follow their opinions… and legal verdicts.”

Therefore, the rush to judgment and labeling innocent people unbeliever is a very serious crime in Islam. Those who act this way continue to cause irreparable harm to Islam and Muslims and they must stopped before they cause more harm.

If we look at closely, we will find each one of these types of freedom come under equality. If you are denied freedom to do something such as vote or express yourself, you are denied a right to have equal opportunity with others. Therefore, you are belittled and looked down upon, as you are not equal to those who denied you your freedom. However, if this freedom is granted to you, you are required to stay within your need. Once you exceed the limits, you are passing your territory, which means you are occupying the space of others. That means, if you were complaining about your rights of freedom being denied and you got them. However, once you pass your limits, you are denying the rights of others.  This is where responsibility comes in.

Let’s look at this scenario. A man threw his hands around while he was walking, and he hit another man’s nose with his uncontrolled hands. The other man asked, “Why did you hit me?” He then replied, “it is my freedom, I can do whatever I want with my hands.  I do not care about your freedom?” The offended man said, “but you cannot hit my nose again.” The two men then began to fight.

Responsibility is accepting the consequences of your actions. If you are in charge of something or someone and if things don’t go the intended way, then you will face the consequences of why it did not go the intended direction.   Freedom comes with responsibility. You are in charge of your own freedom, but when you violate that, you have to accept the ending result, which for sure will not come in your way. The man did not realize the responsibility of his hands and misused the freedom of his hands by hitting them with other people.

Any sound law or rule grantees its individuals the inter-connected three essentials of everyone’s life – the freedom, the equality and the responsibility. Losing or misusing one of them grantees the loss of the other two. The Islamic texts, Qur’an and Sunnah (Islamic sacred book and prophetic traditions) expound and emphasized all these three important practices. The Qur’an granted to all people the freedom that we are born with.   Within the frame of freedom, Islam provides every individual the rights and protection of five essentials – protection of religion, life, property, intellect and dignity. The primary source of Islam is the Qur’an, and we find rights and protections of the five essentials of life. Freedom, equality and responsibility must be maintained for each one of the five essentials The American constitution also provides the rights and protections of individuals, groups and people. The Bill of Rights’ First Amendment is freedom of religion and expression, which grantees everyone in America to practice their religion freely.

Unfortunately, the actions and behaviors of some people these days are far from the scope of our understanding.  The latest issue of the threat of Qur’an burning is a form of blinded extremism and deviation from the right and common path.  Extremism is defined as actions or ideologies of individuals or groups outside the perceived political center of a society; or otherwise claim to violate common moral standards.  The assertion that extremism is related to Islam has no basis. There are extremists among people of all religions.  More than 1.5 billion of the world’s population is Muslim and less than 1% of that may exhibit extremism. In the United States alone, there are more than 7 million decent, productive, responsible Muslim citizens. In many cases when we hear a Christian or Jewish individual commit an act of terrorism, their religion is not mentioned, but is described as a crazy person committing violence. However, for Muslims, Islam is connected to the act right away as “Islamic Terrorist”, or “Islamic Fundamentalist”. Why this double standard?

Islam is peaceful religion that creates peace, tranquility and value.  It preserves principles, and ethics of the society. It is a religion of moderation, it is not and has never been nor will it be too far and extreme to the right nor too far and extreme to the left.

The issue of Qur’an burning or similar senseless actions will create new violence. First of all, the one who wants to burn the Qur’an will gain nothing except creating enemies for himself or herself. There are countless copies of the Qur’an and millions of Muslims who are hufaz (memorizers of the entire Qur’an). It really will not cause any harm to the Qur’an but is extremely offensive to a fifth of the world’s population. In addition, the Qur’an is protected by the Creator Who said, “Verily, We have sent down the Reminder [Quran], and, verily, We will guard it” (Qur’an 15:9).

Humanity desperately needs harmony, cooperation, coexistence, and mutual respect.  Burning a Holy Scripture, flag, image, or refusing to build a religious center makes America lose its image. It will add fuel the already burring fires around the world.  People of faith and good hearts need to stand shoulder to shoulder and be one force against the extremism whatever type it maybe.  The extremist ideologies do not serve anyone well – neither Muslims nor others. Muslims in particular, need to learn their Islam and need to differentiate the correct Islamic teachings from the extremists’ world view.  Similarly, as Americans we need to understand our own constitution, in which the founders for this country laid down its foundation. There is no question that Muslims are going through tough times. However, extremist and terrorist actions will never be justified. We need to do good all the time, whether we are in a good time or tough time. Muslims have the right to self-defense, but it must be proportionate and within lawful means. Islam does not permit the end justifies the means to reach one’s objective. There should be ethical standards even in combat setting. If Muslims are mistreated, they still need to treat with justice those who mistreated them – and that is Islam. Allah said, “O you who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah and be just witnesses and let not the enmity and hatred of others make you avoid justice. Be just: that is nearer to piety, and fear Allah. Verily, Allah is Well-Acquainted with what you do” (Qur’an 5:8).

The trouble is that, even a high percentage of those we see as successful, became successful by chance. Of course, there are personal efforts, and many of these people are trying their best.  In our community, it is obvious to see someone who wants to open a business, but do not know what are the goals of that business. Amr Khalid said efforts without goals are just dream; same as, goals without efforts are nothing. On the other hands, goals with efforts equal success. Few months ago, a friend of mine told me that, a man came to him; wanting him to design a brochure for his organization. My friend asked the man, give me your organization’s information so that I will do the brochure for you. The man asked him, I do not know what information to give you. This is just an example of many cases similar to this one. Many institutions including religious once do not know what are their goals and objectives, so they just plagiarize other’s information, which both Islam and man-made rules prohibited it. I am not surprised why they are cheating other information even though it is amazing and even disturbing when it comes to a religious institution to make such a cheating. I wonder though why one establishes an organization, in which he or she does not even know its objectives. Why not to contribute to the existing once if he or she feels they can contribute something good to the society.  I believe many people including those who do not know the reason of their organization; intentionally are trying to do something good. However, they did not get a proper training from the beginning. Therefore, sometimes wrong things are right for them. It is noticeable there are some kinds of movement within the community to bring some changes. However, I believe, the hierarchies of well known model from individual to society is either not understood or not implemented rightly because of the lack of proper guidance during the childhood to adult life.

The model is as follows: individual-> family-> community-> society. We know the whole society is made up from individuals who make a family, then two families make a community and then two communities make a society. First, individual has to be raised well spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically to become strong and fit. I put spiritually first, because I believe a human being consist this two important elements (soul and body). Each of these elements has special needs. For example, in order for body to grow, it needs food, medicine, exercises etc. and this is what many parents put emphasis on. It is essential and necessary to stress on this part. However, the soul also needs same care if not more, the care of the soul is not by means of food, nor medication or exercises, but through of proper education. .  Education, I mean, education with ethic and civic responsibilities, where everybody plays his or her role to enjoin the good and forbid the bad. ; For example, individuals should take this as their duty. David Orr said in his article of What Is Education For?

“My point is simply that education is no guarantee of decency, prudence, or wisdom. More of the same kind of education will only compound our problems. This is not an argument for ignorance, but rather a statement that the worth of education must now be measured against the standards of decency and human survival – the issues now looming so large before us in the decade of the 1990s and beyond. It is not education that will save us, but education of a certain kind.”

In order to have a good family, individuals have to be prepared. We know that good husband and wife lay the foundations of a good family. If the two or one of them is not prepared mentally, physically, religiously and academically, they will not be able to establish a strong family and most likely this family will collapse completely.  By the same token, if one of them has a stong foundation of what makes a good family, while the other is not, the family, will most likely face a divorce and children will be the most effected in this process, more than the parents. The two individuals are disproportionate to each other.

Therefore, when there are no strong and well balanced individuals, the family will not be possible, so when there are no good and strong families, there will never be strong and good community, and when there are no good and strong communities, there will never be a strong and good society. We have deep social problems, which started years of wars lack of proper education, governance, ethic and civic responsibilities. In order to respond this deep social problems effectively, we have to start from the basics. We have to start education from the individual level in order for us to have good society. The reason is that many people want to make our society better, while they are not even able to make family for themselves. They cannot make family, nor community, let alone a society, because they are not constructively prepared as individuals who are capable to make that change.   We need to adopt this model to produce a solid young individual, who is physically, mentally, spiritually, and socially fit. Two solid individuals can produce a family who displays compassion, love, respect, tolerance, and understanding. Two solid families will create strong community which leads to create a society where universal humanity, perseverance, cooperation, and unity are the norms.

Every creation consists of two types, female and male.  Males cannot populate and live in this world by themselves, nor can females only populate and live in the world by themselves.  In order the world to be populated, children must be born. Generation refers to a form or stage in the life cycle of organism. It is the time between the birth of parents and birth of their offspring.  As a result, new group of people are introduced to the world, who will take the world which their parents handed them over. As any other creation, human beings go through stages of process. the first stage is unborn which consist of three mains steps, the second stage is after born, which consists of 10 steps with three mains stages. In this paper, we only discuss on youth stage.

After born, the main stages of human beings are three; one is the early before teen, which depends on their parents or guidance they receive. This stage, human beings usually take what was offered to them. They rely on their parents. They carry on and identify themselves to whatever identity that their parents carry on. Therefore, they usually do not care about who they are. This is the group that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said; their parents can make them whomever they want. The third group is settled. They already made their choice in life. They are parents, educators, leaders or whatever society is. However, the group between the two, the young and the old is the group we need to pay a special attention.

This group carries many names. They are called teenagers, adolescents, young adults. However, the term youth can encompass all of them. It is an early maturity; the state of being young or immature or inexperienced. It also refers to a condition or a quality of being young or an early period of development or existence.  Upon these two definitions of immaturity and inexperience which indicate that they need help and the quality of being young, which denotes that they are the future of the society, is what we want to examine in this paper.

Immature and inexperienced:

They are immature and inexperienced, so they are usually confused their role in life. They are not young as the first group, who identify themselves to what their parents identify to, and they are not established as the third group. They are uncertain about their place in society and the world. They are not independent, yet they think they no longer need anyone. If they do not get the right and proper guidance, they will be lost.  They will be affected by the media, friends and relationships as well. Media is a big source of influence to them. Celebrities, bad and violence movies and Films affect them tremendously. Friend is the first source that younger people can turn to both good and bad situations. If the friend is not one who can influence them in the right direction, then he/she definitely influences them into the wrong direction.  Relationship is another main factor that impacts the young people. Young people have curiosity to check out movies, imitate to celebrities, and find friends and relationships. If any of these connections or experiences fails, it will have serious of social and mental implications to them. It is for sure, it will have a big impact on them, because they do not have enough experience or knowledge or even capability to handle these cases. Failed relationship or friendship could create low self-esteem, lack of confidence and social exclusion, which could lead to stress, mental effect and finally some bigger social, physical, and psychological problems. Study shows that, young people who watch high levels of media violence are more likely to be aggressive in the real world and increase risk of aggressive behavior as adults. Therefore, education will never be their priority and impious actions will become their normal life.  They use opposite of every positive word or action to a negative meaning, as a result, a generation of anger and aggressive will be introduced to the world.

This problem will be even higher to minorities and low income families and even higher in immigrant families. In addition to all the pervious issues, belonging and lack of citizenship, intergenerational and identity crises will be developed among these groups.  Belonging is very important, but when a teen comes from a minority group; they usually develop double standard personalities.  When they come to school, majority of students or staffs including teachers are different from them either language, color of skin, background, ethnicity, or religion; then they try to adapt and belong to the school environment or their peers. On the other hands, when they come home, they have to adapt their home environment, which is different that of the school. This type of life style is very dangerous, and person cannot stay in that situation for a long time. At this point, identity crises is developed, they do not know which group they belong to. Therefore, citizenship is lost. Let alone to be active and engage the society to fulfill their civic duties. They feel that they are not part of the society. In some cases, hatred can be developed against the society. Intergenerational crisis and cultural barriers can be seen in the immigrant families.

Quality of being Young:

Having said that all; youth are the backbone of the society, both its young and old. They are major component of any society. If they are guided rightly in the beginning, they are the once who determine what the future of the world would be. Because majority of projects and programs are done by youth, youth have changed the world through education, writing and working revolutionaries. They changed the world both good and bad. Thus, with the world of 6.8 billion people and more than 195 countries, and perhaps more than million organizations, fulfilling and providing a good guidance to this group will be vital for parents, community, organizations, countries, nations, and the world as a whole.

Therefore, you hear and see from every organizations’ or community centers’ brochure youth program.  It became cliché, over used. However when that service is not rightly guided, these centers and organizations will not be a successful on their service to youth.  The majority of the programs are not either well implemented or organizers either do not fully understand the purpose of it or manipulate for their personal agenda. As a result, the world is burning more than ever before by youth serving their mentors’ orders who are actually supposed to do opposite. If you look at any war, young people are fighting carrying the orders of their leaders. When a country does not have central government or unstable one, the situation and armament of young people are even higher. When young people do not have right guidance, education, and enough resources, they are susceptible to any predator.

Religious people are not suppose to be predators who use the young people to fulfill their individual interests, but in these days, it seems like, religious people are creating wars and brainwashing youth; at least in the peoples’ eyes. Religion is being manipulated as same as youth being misused. It is the people who are using the name of the religion to push their political agenda to wage wars and to instigate hatred among people and not that of the religion.

Islam is peaceful religion that creates peace, tranquility and value.  It preserves principles, and ethics of the society. It is a religion of moderation, it is not and has never been nor will it be too far and extreme to the right nor too far and extreme to the left. If that is Islam, one can ask why Muslims are committing the most terrorist actions such as suicide. While terrorist actions including suicide bombing will never be acceptable from anyone or any religion under any circumstance, I believe the following factors could cause the increasing suicide bombings.  First, cultural traditions and dictatorship within the Muslim nations is the number one factor, second western powers mistreat and discriminate Muslims by using their power dispassionately. Muslim nations are paralyzed by their leaders and as a result people went against their governments. Because these governments are not serving their own people, the corruption, mistrust, and chaos are developed among Muslim countries. The dictators of Muslim countries are really acting upon the orders of the west; the long colonization of western powers created these leaders. In other words, these leaders are there for their service, but they did come from the choice of their own people.

Therefore, extremist who are existed and undeniable were given excuse by the actions of Muslim leaders with the support of western powers. They benefited the disproportionate western powers towards Muslims and incompetent and in ability of Muslim leaders to govern their own people.  Therefore, they pick up the youth who were looking for their place in society. These extremists were exited even during the time of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). They accused the Prophet for not acting justly, they declare of being unbelievers to the rightly guided caliphates. Part of their signs includes declaring people to be unbelievers including Muslim authorities/leaders, fighting against Muslims or anyone that has different views from theirs.  The ideology which promotes hate and violence is not part of Islam, no more than excessive and deviation from the path of majority of Muslims, but unfortunately in these days many people are using the name of the religion to fulfill their political agenda and to promote their hate crimes to the society. And if the Muslims do not stand shoulder to shoulder to stop this virus idea, it will create more problems. This corrupted ideology has a tie and is sister to the idea of (khawrijtes) who killed the Islamic caliphate, Ali bin Abi Talib (r’a). This type of extremism, who put much emphasis on people’s appearance and based on their corrupted description makes anyone who does not fit their portrayal out of the religion, will not make any benefit for Muslims nor to others. These extremist ideologies serve no one neither Muslims nor non-Muslims.

Thus, youth needs to learn their Islam and need to differentiate right Islam from the extremists’ ideas.  There is no question that Muslims are going through tough time, however, extremist actions will never be justified. We need to do good all the time, whether we are in a good time or tough time. Even if Muslims are mistreated, we still need to treat good those who mistreated us-and that is Islam.

Youth in Islam:

Islam placed youth in high level. As we stated above, youth are considered light and peak of the society. Allah emphasized many times in the Quran, so the prophet Muhammad (pbuh).  Nearly all the prophets were youth and those who believed, supported and stood by them were youth as well. For example, people who believed Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) at the first stage of the revelation were youth. Few examples of them were, mus’ab bin ‘Umair, Ali bin Abi Talib, Usama bin Zaid, Asma, and ‘Aisha bint AbiBakr. They basically sacrificed their entire lives, properties, and energies for Islam & Muslims.

Allah said, “Allah is He Who created you in (a state of) weakness, then gave you strength after weakness, then after strength gave (you) weakness and grey hair. He creates what He wills. And it is He Who is the All-knowing, the All-powerful ” (30:54).
The Prophet also said, “Take benefit from five before five: your youth before your old age; your health before your sickness; your wealth before your poverty; your free-time before your preoccupation; and your life before your death.”

The Prophet said, Allah will shade on the Day of Judgment…a youth who grows up worshipping Him. The Prophet (pbuh) also said, the servant will not move on the Day of Judgment until he or she was asked about four questions. One of the questions will be what did you do with your youth years of life.  Earlier Muslim youth acted upon the above verses and hadiths, so they basically sacrificed their entire lives, properties, and energies for Muslims and humanity in general.

Becoming an Effective Leader:

Any youth can be an effective leader when they are provided four things; first one is education both Islamic and academia; second one is guide and role model; third one is involvements; and fourth is affiliation.  Education is a cornerstone of our lives; it provides its person stabilities in all spiritual, financial, social status, freedom, security, direction and goals. Therefore, it is the first step of good life in this world and after. Guide and role model brings reassurance, confidence of one’s work, motivates, and encourages him or her to do more and proceed further, because life would be impossible without guidance.  Involvement and service is backbone of society and brings aspiration of heart and mind. It brings sense of relief when one helps others; it also changes one’s educational theory to practical and real life experience for it helps them to understand it more evidently. There is a proverb that says, Read it you will forget it; See it you remember it; and Do it you will understand it.  This means that action and practice are the best way to understand. People are divided into three groups, one group is unfortunate, and the second group is wicked, and the third group is worthy. The first group is the poor or sick, those who need help. The second group, are those who do not offer help and assistance for the needy ones even though they can. The third group, are those who help and serve the needy once. “Good actions give strength to ourselves and inspire good actions in others” Plato.  The fourth is affiliation, which is the origin of jama’a (collectiveness) and collaboration. It brings belonging and loyalty. The loss of affiliation brings cultural lose, which leads to identity lose. Islamic calendar is an example of importance of affiliation. The Islamic calendar did not start until Muslims get new home to affiliate with. One is unable to make date or progress unless they have a group they can affiliate with. There is a proverb that says, a person is a person with others. It really does not matter how much one is educated, smart, or rich; one really cannot achieve a lot individually.

Ending:

Therefore, if you want help yourself, your community and most importantly to go to paradise as our predecessors, then you and I are in a same page.  Thus I encourage you to take initiative immediately to help your neighbor as Muslim youth; we can save the world from extremists, injustice, and bring back the ethics and principles of Islam and lead the world for better once again. I believe this is a time for a great change. This is a call to safe Islam, Muslims and humanity, and you are the generation.  Let us be part of this great change, the world needs correct and true Muslim youth like you than ever before.