A Spark Today,
Lights up our Tomorrow
By Bint Arshad
Cataclysmic events are changing the world we live in every
single day. From the coronavirus to the Black Lives Matter
movement, we are seeing changes in paradigm of society
and the course of history. We are all witnesses to the fact
that life as we know it is being altered in some shape or
form daily. Despite the fluctuations that affect the many
facets of our lives, we can take solace in the fact that Allah
has and always will remain our one constant. Allah has told
us time and time again of His unending mercy and love for
us, and that is one thing we can always count on to stay the
same.
Among all of the massive changes in our modern world, we
are noticing that certain groups have been hit particularly
hard. For example, the lower middle class that is struggling
to make ends meet, people with a history of depression
and anxiety, and young people who are struggling to find
themselves and their purpose in life. As Muslims, it is our
duty to care for those around us, and one way to do this
is to invest our time and energy into our youth. This may
seem inconsequential at a time like this; after all, there are
several other members you may find in your own communities
that require more immediate assistance. But there
are ways you can help those members while also nurturing
the Muslim youth in your communities.
Why the Youth and Why Now?
It is important to understand why bringing the youth closer
to Islam is imperative in our time. Growing up, whether as
a practicing Muslim or not, is a tough experience. Science
tracks the different stages a child goes through to reach
adulthood, but our Prophet a took it a step further to show
us the importance of compassion towards children and
young adults in our community. There are several hadith
in which the Prophet a expressed his love for children and
encouraged us to show kindness and affection to them as
well.
In one hadith, It is narrated that the Prophet a said,
“Sometimes, I start the prayer intending to prolong it,
Photo by Gleb Lukomets
20 January – February 2021 | AL-MADINAH