The Corruption and Problems of Young People (1/3)

There are many reasons for the corruption and troubles of young people. During the period of youthfulness, human beings go through a number of physical, mental, and intellectual developments. This period is an evolutionary one in which young people experience rapid development in their transformation into adults,  hence the need for providing  them with means  of self-control  and  ways  of  curbing   self-defiance   as  well  as  wise leadership  that can lead them to the straight path.

The corruption of young people can be attributed to many factors; prominent among them are:

1.  Joblessness

Joblessness is a disease that kills mental, intellectual, and physical capabilities.  As  a matter  of  fact,  it  is  inevitable  that human beings should move and work; if they are deprived of work and  activity, their brains  become  beset,  their intellects  become exhausted,  the  discipline  of  their  minds  becomes  weak,  and devilish insinuations and malicious thoughts take control of their hearts. Evil and wicked intentions may occur to them as a result of the depression that befalls them due to their joblessness.

In  order  to  be  cured  of  this  disease,  the  affected  youth should  develop  interests  that  suit  them  like  reading,  writing, trading, or any other occupation that can stand between them and unemployment  and which are capable of making them sound and useful members of their conununities,  whether they do the work for themselves  or for others.

2. Estrangement between the youth and their elders

This problem manifests in a situation where some elders see corruption in young  adults and just  stand aloof without making any effort whatsoever  to correct them, having lost hope in their reform  and consequently  hating  them or being  afraid of them. They may hold a passive attitude towards their condition, whether it is good or bad. These elders have already concluded  that all young  people  are  corrupt  and  therefore  nurse  psychological grudges against them all: a situation that tears the society apart and causes elders  and young  people  to regard  each  other  with contempt  and disdain.  This, indeed, is one of the dangers that encircle a society.

This problem, however, can be solved if elders and youths endeavour to remove the estrangement and alienation that exist between them. Both should bear in mind that society, with its younger and older people, is like a single body and if a part of it decays the decadence will affect the whole body.

Elders also are requested to sense the responsibility towards the young people that rests upon their shoulders and eliminate from their minds ideas of hopelessness regarding the piety of the young because Allah is capable of doing anything. Indeed, how often a person straying far has been guided by Allah and thereafter became a torch of guidance and a reformer.

Young people, on their part, should bold their elders in high esteem. They should   respect their views and accept their directives because they have achieved degrees of experience arid realities of life which the young have not achieved.  When the wisdom of the elders is added to the energy of the youth, the society can indeed become prosperous by the will of Allah.

3. Being in contact with corrupt people and keeping th eir company

This situation has a great deal of psychological, mental, and moral influence on young people. This is why the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said: “A person is on the religion of his intimate friend, so let every one of you look critically regarding whom to befriend.” (A reliable hadith recorded by Abu Dawood, at-Tirmidhi, Imam Ahmad, and al-Hakim) He (Peace be upon him) also said: “An example of a bad companion is like the blower of the blacksmith's bellows: he either bums your clothes or you get a bad odour from him.” (Recorded by Bukhari and Muslim; this wording is translated from Bukhari's version)

The solution to this problem  is that young people  should choose  righteous,  good,  and intelligent  people  as their companions  in  order  to benefit  from  their  goodness, righteousness,   and  intelligence.  They should consider people very   carefully   before   befriending   them   by   studying   their conditions   and reputations. If they happen to be of noble character, upright, religious, and of good reputation, they will be long-cherished and a form of wealth. They should therefore stick with them. If, on the other hand, they happen to be people of the opposite character, the young people must be cautious of them, keep away from them, and should not be carried away by their sweet talk and nice outward appearance. This is because these are only deceptive and misleading methods employed by devilish people to attract ingenious souls in order to swell their ranks with them and use that as camouflage to cover their decayed situations. How beautiful is this poet's saying:

Study people, if you would like to take them as brethren;

Scrutinize their affairs and examine them.

If you are fortunate to find an intelligent and pious person;

Hold fast onto him happily, with both hands.

(Continued)