Why we don't do anything for Muslim youth?

[UZ]

Re: Why we don’t do anything for Muslim youth?

@khattichic

Well UZ, I have a different perspective on this. I don’t think you can expect children born and raised outside of Pakistan/India to relate to that method of teaching. I am an advisor for our masjid’s youth group and believe me, you cannot expect these kids to understand an Urdu maulana’s teachings! You have to find other ways to engage them. There are plenty of up and coming alims and speakers (Nouman Ali Khan, for one) that youth can relate too.

The same with my own children. I don’t expect them to “repeat my sabaq 10 times”, and actually, since I myself am born and raised in the US too, my parents did not adapt traditional desi practices with us either. What they did do was to lead by example, and to work to help establish our first masjid on western practices (for example, Sunday School, women and children groups in the masjid..etc)

As far as Islamic teachings on saying no to drugs, alcohol,sex etc…I think that’s something that is for us parents teach as common sense. My husband and I already have conversations about all those issues with our kids, on an age approprite level, and then we back it up with deen.

I’m just speaking for myself here, but I don’t think it’s all that hard to raise kids to be good Muslims in western countries.

@Niksik

I lead a couple of committees at our local mosque here and have put together youth mentoring groups. We’re working on expanding them and offering more avenues. We offer coaching and mentorship through my school as well. At the end of the day, the responsibility falls on the community. Someone has to take a lead and identify problems and solutions. We can’t live our life blaming the system. We can become the system, especially for our children.

I recommend that you form a small group out of your mosque with the permission of your executive board. Present to them objectives and goals. I can tell you it will be well accepted considering that problems are real. There’s many muslims in the community now and I’m sure parents are seeking help from qualified people. Let me know if you need help.

Thanks niks, that’s what I am thinking too. Right now I am on project just bringing kids close to namaaz.