Salam alaikum sister,
I would like to ask how youth played a role under the aparthied system? Did they have their own identity or were they segregated to different colors too?
Answer
Assalam alaikum, thanks for your question.
During the time of apartheid the youth played a very important role in keeping their culture alive. I was actually a youth during this time and we were segregated into different colored groups. Schooling, sports, everything was separate. But this also had a positive side which is one of the blessings of Allah.
This segregation actually served to keep the Muslims in their own community and forced them to be united, cooperate, and maintain their identity. It also kept the non-Islamic influences away from this 'closed' community.
Now we see, under the current influx of Westernization, the Muslim groups for example, and tribal African groups have more hegenomy now in this time of crisis, because of their forced social cohesion from times gone by.
However, despite this 'head start' in their social structure, the identity of the youth in all parts of the SA society are starting to erode.
Under apartheid all the oppressed youth had a common goal and this strengthened their unity and identity. It made them seek their strengths, know themselves more and what they want from life, and they shared means to overcome their obstacles.
Now unfortunately the youth don't seem to have a common goal - except gratification of desires. May Allah turn this evil to good.
Name
Isiaka
- Nigeria
Profession
student
Question
May Allah most High from His infinite mercy reward you here on earth, in your grave, and on the day of resurection, for your great efforts for Al Islam. Please I would like to know the ratio of the Muslims to the Christians in South Africa, and by how far is Islam spreadng among the youth?
Answer
Salam alaikum. At present Muslims account for 2% of the population, however, Islam is the fastest growing religion in SA since we entered the era of full democracy. Islam appeals to the youth because it propagates equality of race and gender and because the youth of SA have lost their sense of group identity. Islam gives them a common sense of humanity and eqaulity.
Muslims were not allowed in Apartheid era to propogate Islam in traditionally Black communities but this is now being done with great success by South African people themselves who have studied under scholars in SA and from abroad. This work is being done by the local Islamic NGO's such as the Islamic Dawah Movement and the Muslim Judicial Council.
Name
kareema
- United Arab Emirates
Profession
social worker
Question
Salam alaikum,
I am always worried about family values and morals being neglected and ignored among all this fashionable democracy?
Answer
Assalam alaikum, thanks for your question.
If democracy stands for freedom; true freedom, then there is nothing wrong with it! The problem is that so-called democracy in modern terms restricts people's freedom inadvertently and propagates negative social values through advertisements, media, education and so on.
At the same time, media and education undermines the role of religion and piety in developing a strong and united social fabric. This is not true freedom and not true democracy when people don't have equal access to voice their demands.
As such, we have to keep in mind that society swings from one condition to another according to the efforts and piety of the people who make it up. Unfortunately, we get the leaders we deserve. So it is important that we maintain our own piety and that of our families, and maintain social 'freedom' so we can spread the message of Islam.
In modern times this freedom is represented in the term 'democracy'.
The idea is then, for everyone to be active and partcipate in their own way to build up the society and voice their concerns and take an active role in change.
This is where the youth play a vital pivotal role. They have the idealism, vitality, energy, get up and go, and all the necessary characteristics to make positive social change. So we want to remind the youth of their importance and value to society. At the moment, they have been coerced psychologically into thinking that life is all about satisfying their desires and getting what they want irresprective of the consequences.
That is where we can help them, inshaa Allah. To remind them of how social change did come to SA with the mercy of ALlah and under the hands of the youth.
Name
shaheed
- United States
Profession
student
Question
Dear guest:
After the fall of the apartheid system have the youth played a role in establsihing the New South Africa?
What is that role? And how did they manage to erase the differences among themselves that existed for many years?
Answer
Assalam alaikum and thanks so much for your insightful question.
The youth were the first ones to stand up and rebel against the injustices of Apartheid. In the 1970's the high school students were forced to study the Afrikaaner language (the language of the White Supremists) and they started burning the books despite the harsh consequences. It was this kind of yearning and determination to gain justice and equality that continued to burn in the blood of the youth until 1994 - being passed down from generation to generation.
What a supremely magnificant example of determination that is! We celebrate 'Youth Day' on 16 June to commemorate the first Black boy killed by White soldiers during this period of uprising.
This is our legacy - one of determination, hope, and vision.
During this uprising the youth of all oppressed cultural backgrounds including the Blacks, the Indians, and the Coloreds, worked together by boycotting school, burning books, and resisting the oppression.
May Allah bring back this spirit among the youth - but this time we're resisting the influence of moral decay, individualism, and family breakdown. Can we once again rise up and fight for the rights of the youth to lead clean, upright, wholesome, hopeful lives??
There are still differences existing between various cultural groups but slowly and surely we are overcoming these through, education, intermingling, inter-marriage, and social awareness programs. The government has initiated many of these awareness programs and is determined to eradicate inequality.
Name
nick
- United Kingdom
Profession
youth counsellor
Question
Hi there,
The youth are very important constituents of society. Which organizations are involved in taking care of the youth in SA? What is being done for them?
Thanks a lot.
Answer
Hi Nick and thanks for your question.
Actually, quite a lot is being done for the youth in SA. On the governmental level, new laws have been implemented to guarantee the rights of the youth to free education, free health care, and a safe environment.
There are many local NGOs e.g. the mental health council, the Islamic social welfare organization, the Islamic Dawah movement, the Islamic Judicial Council, and various schools and centers as well as drug rehabilitation centers. They all seek to educate the youth to be confident, hardworking, and responsible adults. Access to such things is free of charge and easily accessible.
Largely speaking, the family in SA is still intact even though there are problems that are inevitable when moral decay increases in a society. But the family is valued and encouraged and that is a big step towards raising a healthy coming generation. This is especially so in the Muslim community.
Name
moe
- Canada
Profession
sudent
Question
Salam alaikum,
The Black continent has suffered a lot of famine political upheavals etc... What is the role of SA to develop and upgrade this continent?
Answer
Wa alaikum salam, and thanks so much for your question.
Wa alaikum salam, thanks for your question.
The Black continent has suffered for many years under colonization by white supremists - this is something we all have in common in Africa. Other wealthy countries (represented by selfish wealthy ambitious people) seek to take advantage of weaker countries.
Africa is now beginning to stand on its own after having shaken off the physical structure of colonization. What remains is to shake off the psychological colonization that is much more difficult to do.
South Africa has developed, with the mercy of Allah, a lot of infrastructure and has become economically independent which is a vital step to development.
South Africa shook off oppressive rule and is a living example that it CAN be done.
So many people in Africa today are still colonized 'mentally'. We have to go back to our own identity, traditions, and morality and values. As long as we are ruled by immorality and greed, we will remain oppressed. Freedom starts in the spirit of man - how can we be free if we are addicted to drugs, alcohol, or pornography? We have to redefine the meaning of 'freedom'.
Under colonist rule, the definition of freedom was simply to be rid of the 'white man'! But it has a far deeper meaning now that requires intellectual thought, effort, and knowing and disciplining ourselves.
Name
shazia
- Ireland
Profession
editor
Question
Salam alaikum,
Do the Muslim youth play an imprtant role in volunteering in SA?
Thanks.
Answer
Wa alaikum salam, thanks for your question.
The white youth have become much more involved in volunteer work. Perhaps this is the case as an attempt to compensate for the injustices done by the previous generation. There is a lot of goodwill between various cultural groups of youth.
We would like all the youth to be more involved in helping each other on a human level with the common aim to establish piety, eradicate corruption, and develop a safe and stable community - which are all things that are loved by Allah.
There are many Muslim youth involved in Dawah work through organizations like the Muslim Youth Movement, and the National Zakah Fund. They are helping the under-privileged in various ways. For example, there have been a lot of floods and these organizations come to the rescue and provide a lot of aid and assistance. This is done by young volunteers who help out in practical ways.
Name
Ahmed
- Cameroon
Profession
financial manager
Question
There is so much juvenile crime throughout the world, and also in African countries, including South Africa. What confuses me, is that SA has emerged from a horrific past with triumph, shouldn't this imbue the youth with hope, and determination to develop themselves and their country, instead of turning to unemployment, crime, gangs and so on. Can you provide some ideas about this?
Answer
Assalam alaikum, and thanks for your question.
Thanks for your question.
South Africa has swung from one way of thinking to another. The previously oppressed people have become the policy makers. This has to some extent led certain groups to think they are immune to prosecution and the laws of the land.
This has led to an increase in crime (the criminal uses his past oppression as an excuse to commit crime. This happens in all communities in SA).
The justice system at present is still very much sympathetic towards the criminal, because in the past the white goverment used the justice system to control the majority of South Africans through unjust applications of the law and punished anyone who dared to speak out against the oppressors.
The youth are now turning to gangs and crime because the process of providing jobs, opporunity, and education is slow and the youth feel frustrated and that they have no future. The best alternative, as they see it, is to join up with people who share the same kinds of problems - gangs. Being part of a gang offers a lot of financial reward which makes it even more attractive.
The government is trying to overcome this by implementing laws that if anyone is found to be a member of a gang, they can be prosecuted and imprisoned. This may seem a short-sighted remedy to this problem, but it serves to deter potential gang members, until education, job opporunity and so on increases.
Name
Samm
- Zimbabwe
Profession
university student
Question
Do you think SA will end up a one party government like Zimbabwe? if so, how will this effect the youth? Thanks very much.
Answer
Thanks for your question Samm.
I don't think SA will end up a one party government because we have a lot of healthy opposition parties that are supported by many parts of the SA society.
There are avenues of making your voice heard and forming pressure groups. Allowing the people to be active and a vital part of the political process keeps social pressures down and maintains the social conscience of politicians who are liable to prosecution if they take advantage of their positions.
Keeping the political channels open, enables the youth to become involved in the decision-making process. This gives them the feeling of belonging and having a significant voice.
The youth need to be more and more aware of what is going on in their society. University students are very active in rallies and demonstrating against what they see is unjust legislation. The process is serving to upgrade the position of the youth and give them a brighter future - if, they choose to find ways to develop themselves and their society instead of destroying themselves through drugs, alcohol, irresponsibile lifestyles and so on. It's really up to them to decide which way they'll go.
Name
Mona
- Australia
Profession
nurse
Question
Salama alaikumu, I've always been curious about what life was like for young people and everyone, under apartheid. Do you think the youth of that time are very different from the SA youth today? What are some of the major differences (in contrast) between yesterday and today?
Answer
Wa alaikum salam and thanks for your question.
The first thing is the choices that people can make now as opposed to the past. Now the youth can choose their career whereas in the past certain careers like doctors, pilots, surgeons etc were only for the Whites.
People of any color or creed can enter any restaurant, bus, toilet, beach, shop etc and in the past this just wasn't possible. Obviously, in the past when people were so severely controlled and oppressed it affected their self -esteem but despite that, the resistance movement grew and prospered. This makes us wonder what has happened today when people are so blessed and have opporunities to succeed in life, but instead they choose to destroy themselves and others. It is certainly a phenomenon.
The youth of today are much more self-confident and able to demand their rights diligently which in turn has led to them rebelling against all forms of discipline including parental discipline and discipline at school. If we don't change this we will end up losing our youth - that is, they won't be responsible, or capable of leading the country in the future.
If a person cannot respect their parents who love and care for them, how can he/she respect a nation who has rights and govern them properly. If a person doesn't value their own self enough and destroys themselves knowingly through drugs and promiscuity, how can they take on a leading role in society? This is our new challenge.
Name
salwa
- Canada
Profession
teacher
Question
Salam alikum, we know unfortunately that the youth have problems. Could you tell us who is helping them? Is it a matter of Muslims helping Muslims and NGOs helping ...who?
Answer
Wa alaikum salam. Thanks for your question.
The SA people are doing their best to form organizations to cater to the youth but we are limited by lack of funds. This is an ongoing problem. There is no shortage of volunteers but we need more volunteers who have a professional background and skills as well as resources.
The wealthy Arab countries are not really involved in helping the youth in SA so this is an area that could be developed. There are NGOs working in coordination with centers working in SA. One such example is an Indonesian Drug Rehabilitation Unit that trains volunteers to work with drug addicts. The training is tough but worthwhile! and Free! They even provide the plane ticket from SA to Indonesia. This center is called 'The Orient' and works with youth from all races and creeds.
Another NGO is Nicro which is a government funded organization that specifically works to rehabilitate criminals and assist their families. This NGO is made up of Muslims and non-Muslims and serves people from all races and creeds.
There are many others and we thank Allah for the help He sends in so many ways. May He bless the youth to be strong, pious, hopeful and active in developing the society.
Name
Nick
- United States
Profession
student
Question
Is the family still in tact in SA? It seems to be breaking down all over the world and I think this causes many problems for the youth.
Answer
Assalam alikum Nick, thanks for your question.
You are right, the family is very important to nurture the youth and be the springboard for their activity in life. The ideas, values, and hopes of the family are reflected onto the youth and from there, affect social change.
Their behavior as responsible adults in the community is affected by their family background. So we cannot under-estimate the importance of a well-balanced family.
In SA the family generally is valued and encouraged. The Muslims are in the forefront of this because the youth in the Muslim community are being encouraged by their parents to marry at a younger age, (which is a Sunnah), so as to avoid promiscuity. The parents are willing to help take on the responsibility of this new family while the 'new' husband is still studying and so on. This is working well and is an example to the SA society at large, as a practical way to overcome the problems of promiscuity, AIDS, and unwanted babies.
