بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

LIVE news updates
Jun 24 Transforming Your Reality Jun 17 A History of Muslim Americans’ Political Engagement Jun 17 My Brother is Gay: Navigating the Intersection of Religion and Family An interview with Imam Wesley Lebron Jun 10 Islam and the Romans: Early Muslim-Byzantine Interaction May 20 Reclaiming the Sunnah of Adoption and Foster Care: An Interview with Basmah Salam Apr 29 National Poetry Month: An Ode to Faith, Visibility, and the Conversations We Don’t Forget Apr 15 Beyond Ramadan: Taking Its Lessons Farther  Apr 15 The Power of Saying No: A Reflection on Boundaries

Tag: Muslim teens

  • Teen Talk: Answering Tough Questions About Islam

    Teen Talk: Answering Tough Questions About Islam

    It’s a good bet many Muslims parents worry their child may go astray of Islam. Today, raising children who remain rooted in the faith presents immense challenges. For teens, embracing their Islamic identity during these formative years can be stressful. They often grapple with questions their parents may not anticipate, yet these inquiries must be met with wisdom and understanding. Far from being a cause for concern, such questions are a positive sign. Teenagers curious about God, existence, or religion are actively engaging with their beliefs, and their faith will only be strengthened when their questions are met with grounded, truthful answers.

    Muslim parents cannot expect or want blind adherence to Islam. They must encourage critical thinking and exploration so children develop unwavering faith. In the Qur’an, Allah commands us to reflect and to base our faith on certainty:

    “Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the day and night, there are signs for people of reason. ˹They are˺ those who remember Allah while standing, sitting, and lying on their sides, and reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth ˹and pray˺, ‘Our Lord! You have not created ˹all of˺ this without purpose. Glory be to You! Protect us from the torment of the fire.’” (Quran 3:190-191)

    Adolescents and Religion

    Teens might question how we know Allah exists and whether Islam is the truth. Encounters with people from different backgrounds can fuel this curiosity during self-discovery when young people are becoming more independent, following their interests, and relying on reason to make sense of the world. Living in the West means they’ll interact with people of diverse beliefs and practices, leading to questions about their understanding of God. This happened during the Islamic empire’s expansion after Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) death. Muslims met people from various traditions who understood God differently, some attributing human qualities to God, others imagining Him as part of the physical universe or confined to space. In response, kalam, or speculative theology, emerged to address these theological challenges. It became valuable for articulating and defending core beliefs about God’s existence, oneness, and attributes.

    A 2019 Pew Research Center survey on the religious lives of U.S. teens and their parents provides insights for Muslim parents. Forty-eight percent of teens report sharing “all the same” religious beliefs as their parents. One-third of these teens say their parents are unaware of these differences, and 17 percent note it causes some conflict at home. Additionally, 46 percent of teens ponder life’s meaning. These findings highlight why teens need a solid spiritual grounding as they question, explore, and form beliefs. To meet this need, parents should be well-versed in Islamic fundamentals to provide gentle guidance and answers.

    To address Allah’s nature and existence, we must first examine the Quran. Also useful is the Sanusi creed, a foundational text in Islamic theology with rational answers to common questions. Renowned scholar Imam Muhammad bin Yusuf al-Sanusi (830–895 AH) authored Al-Sughra (The Foundational Proofs), a work praised for simplifying complex theological principles into clear, logical arguments by harmonizing rational inquiry with revelation. His approach to kalam integrates reason with teachings of the Quran and Sunnah, offering an accessible framework . His creed fosters belief rooted in reason and certainty, empowering young Muslims to approach their spiritual journeys with clarity and conviction and ensuring they have a strong intellectual and spiritual foundation to defend Islam.

    Answering Teen Questions Using Reason

    Here are some of the most common, including ideas to address them with Quran and As-Sanusi’s explanations.

    1. How do we know Allah exists?

    Allah says: “Or were they created by nothing, or are they ˹their own˺ creators?” (Quan 52:35)

    Answer: As-Sanusi mentioned using intellect to reflect on the created world and indeed proof of Allah’s existence is in His creation. Every design points to a designer. The universe’s intricate systems, heavenly bodies in orbit, perfect balance of ecosystems, and the complex nature of human functions indicate an intelligent, purposeful Creator.

    1. How do we know Islam is the truth?

    Allah says: “Say, “We believe in Allah and what has been revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and his descendants; and what was given to Moses, Jesus, and other prophets from their Lord—we make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we ˹fully˺ submit. Whoever seeks a way other than Islam, it will never be accepted from them, and in the Hereafter they will be among the losers.” (Quran 3:84-85)

    Answer: Islam aligns with reason and revelation. As-Sanusi emphasized authentic miracles as proof of prophethood. The Quran is a living miracle, unmatched in its linguistic excellence, predictions of the future, and timeless wisdom. Since its revelation, it’s remained unchanged and universally applicable. Islam’s teachings on monotheism, morality, and life’s purpose resonate with human nature and logic.

    1. How do we know Allah is one?

    Allah says: “Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “He is Allah—One ˹and Indivisible˺; Allah—the Sustainer ˹needed by all˺. He has never had offspring, nor was He born. And there is none comparable to Him.” (Quran 112: 1-4)

    Answer: As-Sanusi explained logic rejects the possibility of multiple gods because it would lead to chaos. If there were multiple gods, their wills could conflict; one might want to create while the other may want to destroy, or one may wish the sky blue while the other preferred red. This would result in disorder, but the universe operates in harmony, proving the Creator is one.

    1. Why can’t there be multiple gods?

    Allah says: “Allah has never had ˹any˺ offspring, nor is there any god besides Him. Otherwise, each God would have taken away what he created, and they would have tried to dominate one another. Glorified is Allah above what they claim!” (Quran 23:91)

    Answer: If multiple gods existed, they would have to agree or disagree. If they disagreed, the universe would descend into disorder. If they agreed, it would indicate a hierarchy or dependence, contradicting the idea of each being all-powerful. As-Sanusi uses the argument of mutual exclusivity to establish that only one independent, all-powerful Creator exists.

    1. If Allah can do anything, can He become human and walk among us?

    Allah says: “I did not create jinn and humans except to worship Me. I seek no provision from them, nor do I need them to feed Me. Indeed, Allah ˹alone˺ is the Supreme Provider—Lord of all Power, Ever Mighty.” (Quran 51:56-58)

    Answer: Allah’s perfection means He isn’t bound by human limitations. He created human beings to worship Him, making them dependent/contingent. Becoming human would imply change and imperfection, which contradict Allah’s nature as eternal and unchanging. As-Sanusi teaches that Allah’s attributes, like power and knowledge, are complete and absolute, not subject to the weaknesses of creation.

    1. Can Allah create a rock He can’t lift?

    Allah says: “Your Lord creates and chooses whatever He wills—the choice is not theirs. Glorified and Exalted is Allah above what they associate ˹with Him˺.” (Quran 28:68)

    Answer: This question misinterprets the nature of Allah’s power. As-Sanusi clarifies Allah’s power extends to everything possible. Creating a rock He can’t lift is self-contradictory and is a logical impossibility. Allah doesn’t do what is logically absurd, and this doesn’t diminish Him.

    1. If God exists, why do bad things happen?

    Allah says: “We will certainly test you with a touch of fear and famine and loss of property, life, and crops. Give good news to those who patiently endure.” (Quran 2:155)

    Answer: As-Sanusi mentioned Allah’s wisdom is beyond human comprehension. What we perceive as “bad” may have hidden benefits or serve a greater purpose, like testing patience, building character, or preventing harm. The world is a temporary place of trials; the ultimate justice belongs to Allah. Allah has promised humans will be held accountable and there will be punishment and reward in the hereafter. Trusting in Allah’s wisdom means understanding that His plan is always best, even if we cannot see it immediately.

    Reflecting on Questions Deepens Faith

    Parents should encourage teens to ponder creation and question their beliefs. As-Sanusi’s approach holds belief isn’t blind but rooted in reason and reflection. Addressing these questions affirms that Islam, as a faith of reason, encourages understanding over blind acceptance. Allah says in the Quran: “Have they not traveled throughout the land so their hearts may reason, and their ears may listen? Indeed, it is not the eyes that are blind, but it is the hearts in the chests that grow blind.” (22:46). Islam teaches that reasoning and reflection lead to strong faith and that questions are an opportunity to grow closer to Allah by understanding His attributes and wisdom. Parents shouldn’t fear when these questions arise but guide their children to understanding and pray for their guidance. Ultimately, it is Allah who guides.

  • My Child Has Wandered off the Straight Path

    My Child Has Wandered off the Straight Path

    Editor’s note: The author of this article has chosen to write anonymously in order to protect the identity of their child.

    I’ll admit it. I used to be complacent. A decade ago, my children were young and happily attending Islamic school. They were memorizing Qur’an, socializing with other Muslim kids, willingly joining us for salat in our home and activities in the masjid. In those days when I would hear about a Muslim teen in our community who had started dressing immodestly. . . or one who had been caught with a boyfriend or girlfriend behind the school. . . or one who consistently skipped prayers . . . I thought, alhamdullilah my kids are not like that.

    If I’m being completely honest, deep down inside I also sometimes thought, What did their parents do wrong to get such a misguided child? This assumption, of course, implied that I was doing something right. That my children’s current acquiescence to the rules of their faith was my doing. That my husband and I could take all the credit for their innocence and love of Islam.

    So often in life we find that the very thing we judge others for – the thing we smugly think could never happen to us – will come back to bite us. And in my case, sadly, it did.

    My daughter wore hijab until she was seventeen. Then one day she removed it, not with hesitance or regret, but with grim determination. In retrospect, I guess I should have seen it coming. She had been dropping hints for a long time. She had cried about the tactless and hurtful comments about her Islamic dress that she’d heard from non-Muslim peers and complete strangers. She had complained numerous times about the inconvenience of wearing modest swimwear at the beach because all the material weighed her down, and she felt she looked like a “freak” amongst her bikini-clad contemporaries. She had argued countless times that Muslim men had it easy: they could blend in with Western society and wear almost anything they wanted. They usually did not face the same harassment that Muslim women did. No matter how many times I tried to explain the reasoning behind Islamic rulings, remind her of Allah’s wisdom and love, and encourage her devotion to her faith, my words increasingly fell on deaf ears.

    Still, the fact remains that I was surprised and heartbroken when my daughter decided to remove her hijab. Even more concerning, her faith started slipping away bit by bit – missed prayer by missed prayer – over the subsequent months. I tried many times to change her mind, but ultimately, I felt powerless to stop the downward spiral. At this point, my intelligent, strong-willed daughter was listening only to her peers, social media influencers, and even the books she read in school. All of these made her feel like her faith was a prison that she needed to escape.

    I was a teen once. I remember the allure of the “freedom,” “independence” and “glamor” that the world promises to individuals who follow their whims and desires. I realize that as an adult, it is far easier to embrace modesty, humility, and submission to God; but for many adolescents in the modern world, adhering to Islam can indeed feel like grasping a burning coal, as our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) predicted.

    Eventually, due to my daughter’s deviation from the Straight Path, I realized that my children’s guidance was not in my hands. Yes, I have a responsibility to do my best to be a good Islamic role model and teacher, but my efforts are not necessarily enough to secure my children’s hearts to Allah. Only He SWT can guide, and He is the Turner of Hearts. “Verily, you [O Muhammad] guide not whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills. And He knows best those who are the guided” (Quran 28:56).

    I grieved privately for months. Finally, I hesitantly opened up to some close Muslim friends about my experience. I was immensely relieved when they confessed similar stories: many of them also had teens who were struggling to practice, or barely practicing, or not practicing at all. Of course, I was not happy to hear this news, but I admit it gave me some solace to know I wasn’t alone. Those parents, my friends and contemporaries, were excellent Muslims. They prayed and worshiped as a family, led a wholesome life, set a good example, and invested in Islamic schools, homeschooling, and Qur’an lessons. And yet, many of their teenagers had still drifted from their deen. It was a tragedy, yes, but clearly it wasn’t entirely the fault of us parents.

    Talking with other moms, I also realized that the Muslim community’s reaction to misguided youth is, generally, very unhelpful. The teens feel so judged and unaccepted that they stop attending Islamic events and start avoiding practicing Muslims altogether. One friend’s daughter noticed that when she stopped wearing hijab, some of the “aunties” who had known and loved her for years were suddenly cold and distant. In part, I can’t blame them. They were probably saddened to see a young woman abandon an important act of worship. Perhaps they were even worried that she would influence their daughters and encourage them to stop dressing modestly. I don’t entirely fault them, but I do know the community’s rejection hurts teens deeply and pushes them even farther away from the deen.

    Whether you can relate to my situation or not, if you are a Muslim parent, I have some words of advice. These are words from a distraught mother whose own child has wandered off the Straight Path and whose constant prayer is for her child’s repentance.

    • Don’t get complacent. If your young children are enthusiastically practicing their faith, that is wonderful. But do not mistake that for a guarantee of future adherence. No matter how much they seem to love Islam now, still make du’a for your children’s guidance on a daily basis. Their faith will likely be tested in the teen years, and peer pressure is perhaps worse than ever because of social media.
    • Never be arrogant if your children are “good Muslims.” If they love Islam, and if they continue on the Straight Path, it is a blessing from Allah, not a bragging right.
    • Don’t condemn people silently or, even worse, backbite them verbally. We know that speaking badly about someone is like “eating the flesh of your brother,” according to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
    • Keep in mind: we never know who might stray from the Straight Path. It could be me, or you, or any of our children. We all must work continuously to maintain and strengthen our faith. Even the Prophet (s) who was the most perfect human and the most beloved by Allah SWT, continually made the du’a: “O Turner of Hearts, keep my heart firm on your deen.” If the Prophet (s) supplicated Allah SWT to help him keep his faith strong, who are we to be complacent about our iman?!
    • Supplicate for any wayward child. The best thing you can do for a youngster who has stopped practicing is to make sincere du’a for them. Do it with compassion, sincerity, and humility. Know that each prayer we make for another person is answered by an angel saying, “And the same to you.” By making heartfelt du’a for another child, then, we are also protecting our own, insha’ Allah.
    • Continue to treat them like your brother or sister in faith. Even though they might not look or act like a “proper” Muslim right now, they still have a seed of iman in them, insha’ Allah. We do not know what lies in another person’s heart. Errant Muslims still deserve our kindness. Indeed, perhaps because of their precarious situation, they need even more of it.
    • Be supportive of that child’s parents. Do not treat them differently, nor presume that their child’s behavior is their fault. Remember that some of the strongest Muslims of all time had family members who did not embrace Islam. Prophet Nuh had one son who remained a disbeliever, refused to board the ark, and eventually drowned. Even Prophet Mohammad (s), whose beautiful example inspired countless individuals to accept Islam, could not convince his uncle Abu Talib to acknowledge the truth.
    • Guidance is in the hands of Allah SWT, and a person’s current behavior does not necessarily reflect the quality of their upbringing. Remember that there are many forces working against Muslim parents’ best intentions. Keep in mind that teen rebellion is a common – if not justified –phenomenon.
    • Do not assume this is the end of their story! Insha’Allah their period of disobedience, rebellion, and confusion will end, by the grace of Allah. Insha’Allah their parents’ fervent du’as will be answered, and these children will repent and turn back to the Straight Path. Perhaps today’s misguided teen will become tomorrow’s pious adult who knows exactly how to reach confused Muslim youth because she has been in their shoes. There is always hope, insha’ Allah, and a believer is always optimistic about Allah’s mercy and guidance.

    May Allah SWT guide our children, forgive our shortcomings, and protect our ummah from anything that turns us away from His love and forgiveness. Ameen.