ARTICLE BY FAHEEMAH GASANT

A journey filled with flat tyres, potholes and engine problems is life for our Muslim youth in today's modern world...

 
Bismillah hie raghman nie ragheem.

Being a Muslim youth in today's society can be exceptionally challenging. Life is like a journey where you have an ultimate destination which as Muslims is Allah. Along the way there are going to be challenges such as flat tyres, potholes, engine problems, distractions or you just going to feel lazy and rest unnecessary and at times you're going to take a wrong turn and be lost in the middle of nowhere. Although everyone experiences this journey, the youth travels a much more difficult and challenging journey.

Being a youth can either have a lot of nail biting, tears and hair pulling moments because you feel like there's a major tight knot inside you which somehow never seems to come undone or you feel like you're on cloud nine with an inner peace inside of you because of the extreme love you have for Allah ta' ala.  Your love for Allah, determines the way you feel inside.  Living a life full of disobedience to Allah, makes you feel as if something's missing. It feels as if you're suffering from an identity crisis as you're overwhelmed by a continuous downpour of rainfall of expectations of the West. Wherever  you look, there's peer pressure, your ego, lowly desires, distractions, as well as evil attractions that all keep attacking you from all sides, like a mob trapping you in a small space, screaming at you to look at them.

Allah is the most merciful and understanding; hence the reason Allah has favoured the youth over the old as stated in a hadith. The Messenger of Allah (SAW) has said: "The greatness of the worshipper of Allah who is a youth over the old person who worships [ Allah] after he has become of old age is like the greatness of the deputed ones [The Prophets and Messengers] over all creations." [49]

Doing certain bad things and being rebellious usually seems fun and seems to appeal to one. Doing good things seems like an effort and too much hard work. This is because shaytan wants you to think like that. He whispers his ideas to us and brainwashes us through the media. Doing good things and being obedient to Allah is in fact beautiful and shouldn't be frowned upon or be seen as a burden.

In my opinion, hijab, intermingling with the opposite gender, performing solaah and fasting in the  month of Ramadhaan are the most neglected among the youth or the things the youth struggle with the most.

Like our honourable and beloved Sheikh Mehmet Nazim Adil- al-Haqqani stated regarding our obedience as a Muslim using the example of a car. "When you disobey, you have difficulty. There are thousands of parts inside. If you remove one of them, just one part, look and see if the car will work. How is it going to work? Maybe it works in a funny way. It may move pushing and pulling it. It may run, shaking, stopping. But if you put that part in, it's flawless, it moves easily without any problems." Every action we take has a ripple effect on our life. It will affect us mentally and spiritually. Like our beloved wise Sheikh was trying to tell us, if we want to rid ourselves of that bitter cold, empty hollow feeling or that storm brewing inside us, obedience to Allah ta' ala is the only cure.

By obeying Allah because we love Allah, fear Allah's wrath and is hopeful for His everlasting Mercy we will gain a pure heart, pure mind and pure soul. Once we achieve this, we can become better people who'll do lots of good in our daily lives, we'll bring smiles to other people and will be making a good change no matter how small. Small changes lead to big changes.

As the youth of today and the future and hope of tomorrow, we should hold the banner of Islam high proudly and spread its beautiful message even if it's just by our character which we should take from our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW)'S most beautiful and majestic character. By really loving Allah and I mean by really loving Allah, every challenge or test that comes your way will not want to make you scream at the top of your lungs but rather to you, it will seem as a beautiful opportunity has presented itself to you so that you can show Allah that you really love Allah and because of that love, you are willing to do anything that pleases Allah.  

AN ARTICLE BY FAHEEMAH GASANT

If only we could see life through the eyes of each other, so many problems could be avoided. Difference of opinions would be respected. Perspective and understanding would replace so many negative reactions and emotions we so easily jump to when only looking through our own eyes.

As in human nature – and all of which after all makes us "human", we tend to sometimes be biased, prejudice, stubborn or self-centred.  We so easily stand in judgement of another, when only Allah is the ultimate Judge. We tend to act on emotion and hold grudges when Allah Whom is in no need of us whatsoever is All Merciful, All Compassionate and so Forgiving.

Life today is a one hectic, busy rollercoaster.  Stressing, rushing, over tiredness, family problems, marital problems, financial problems, work challenges and the list is endless.  People's minds tend to be overburdened, juggling …… L  I F E.  Sometimes we run into a family member or neighbour or acquaintance that you look to greet or smile and that person just walks right pass you or even looks in your face and ignores you (or so you assume and jump to the worst conclusions). Or you stop to speak and that person is very short with you.  Have you ever truthfully thought about how perhaps on one occasion you interacted with someone on a day when you were not feeling well or were overtired, super – stressed or came from an upsetting situation or argument or were simply multitasking and wrecking your brain trying to keep your head above water? Has it ever occurred to you that perhaps that person was just that………. preoccupied.  Perhaps s/he was not looking at you but through you, totally absent minded. Perhaps the frown you thought was directed at you was an upsetting situation or argument replaying itself in his/her head.

Growing up I always heard my mother saying:" Dit kos mens om mens te verstaan." I could never figure out what she meant until I got married, had children and truly started experiencing life and people.  In essence I think all of the above is what I came to understand of what she was trying to say.

 If man was created in the image of the Almighty should we not look at  each other with respect, love and compassion instead of those negative or bad thoughts we allow to creep into our minds. If we were honoured as the Ummah of Rasululah (SWS), left with such an exceptional example and role model, should we not strive to be worthy of that title "Ummati". Oh nation of peace and love let us strive to see each situation through the eyes of another.

Much love and peace to you all ……………. Fee Amaanilah J

Faheemah Gasant