Should Muslim men wear clothes that distinguish them from the rest of the non-Muslims or should they try to conform to the basic trends of the society without blatently imitating the non-Muslims?
Answer
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Name
Sohaib
- United States
Profession
student
Question
Well, when it comes to issues of identity, there are many topics that we can address. I think that there are more important issues than the issue of clothes, particularly issues pertaining to character, how to present ourselves as Muslims. Clothes can come into play, when the Muslim does not strive to imitate the new fashions. However, there are other more important ways for a Muslim to distinguish himself from non-Muslims.
Answer
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Name
Sohaib
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Profession
Question
Don't you think that issues that youth face in school and college on a day-to-day basis are of greater importance? Take for example salat, separation of the genders, celebrating the Eids, being proud of being Muslim...
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Name
Khalil
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Profession
Question
I agree with you Sohaib but I am only asking about this particular issue and about its ramifications, not whether or not it was the most important issue. Obviously it is not. Prayer etc. is far more important than anything that we could be discussing at this moment.
Answer
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Name
W. GOMEZ
- El Salvador
Profession
SOCIAL WORKER
Question
Can someone explain to me, what is an Islamic clothing; what country resembles the Prophet's way of dressing?
Answer
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Name
Sohaib
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Profession
Question
Brothers, I think the topic of clothing can be quite intriguing to discuss, but we really should try to focus on the topic, namely the challenges that youth face in the school system in the west with respect to their Islamic identity. Maybe it would be a good idea if one of you can lead us into a discussion of how clothing pertains to the identity crisis a Muslim student, male or female, faces in school.
Answer
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Name
Khalil
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Profession
Question
"Islamic" clothing should be loose fitting and not in complete imitation of what the non-Muslims use to distinguish themselves. Muslims should not be wearing Nirvana or Madonna t-shirts for example. The sisters should be wearing Hijab obviously and preferable what is know as the jilbab. But as our brother Sohaib has already mentioned, I think the more important issue at hand is how to preserve the INTERNAL identity and character identity of the Muslim more than anything else. Inculcating REAL Islam in the hearts of the youth is what we need to be focusing on.
Answer
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Name
Sohaib
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Profession
Question
Take for example the difficulty some sisters have in wearing hijab at school. The pressures they are faced with, and what some call "peer pressure" leads many to refuse to wear hijab. In some cases, a sister who begins to wear hijab may decide some time later to discontinue the hijab.
Answer
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Name
Khalil
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Profession
Question
I think that a very important way of doing that is having an MSA organization at EVERY single school in the country where Muslims attend. There must be people of knowledge and dedication advising the youth every step of the way. There should also be weekly or bi-monthly after school or outside of school activities where they can learn and have "fun" activities to get to know one another.
Answer
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Name
W. GOMEZ
- El Salvador
Profession
SOCIAL WORKER
Question
I believe the problem is not only in school with the youth, but at home too. The parents are very open to the new styles, and trends that their kids are going through. Its seems that Muslim parents agree more with the western lifestyle than the Islamic lifestyle.
Answer
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Name
Sohaib
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Profession
Question
That's a great point Br. Khalil makes. In fact, I personally experience public school and know how important it is to have a support network of knowledgeable brothers and sisters who can help others in their difficulties. It has in fact become very popular now for students in public schools to start their local chapters of MSAs. What is needed is support from their local communities and regular observation.
Answer
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Name
Khalil
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Profession
Question
Believe it or not, the Hijab issue is not something that is initially important when approaching the sisters. Don't get me wrong though, Hijab IS obligatory in Islam, but so is using wisdom in our call to Islam as well as inculcating respect and love of Allah in the hearts of the Muslim youth...
Answer
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Name
Khalil
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Profession
Question
Walter is right on point but at the same time we have to do something with the students and youth themselves before we can get their parents. Also, it may be that the parents will not be affected but their kids will. We need to try ALL outlets.
Answer
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Name
Sohaib
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Profession
Question
What Br. Walter raises is a valid point. However, we need to keep in mind that many parents are uneducated and need the local masjid and Islamic center to provide the support structure for them and help them in raising their youth. This means establishing Islamic schools, youth centers, regular youth programs, camps, etc...
Answer
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Name
Haroon
- United States
Profession
Question
This raises the issue of the concept of a village raising a child. However, what practical steps can begin to take to not only reach out to the youth but the parents as well as even dealing with each other?
Answer
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Name
Khalil
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Profession
Question
I think that every local Masjid or Masjids should make sure that ALL of the local high schools and universities, as well as secondary schools have an active and GUIDED MSA up and running.
Answer
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Name
Sohaib
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Profession
Question
Well, Br. Haroon, we need to begin by realizing that youth are a priority. After that realization, we can move to the next step of understanding what the needs of Muslim youth in the United States are. The next step would involve the efforts of many individuals with experience in youth work to come together, develop a comprehensive program, and begin implementing it. Such a program would need, by necessity, to tackle all aspects of a youth's development, physical, spiritual, and mental.
Answer
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Name
W. GOMEZ
- El Salvador
Profession
Question
It's sad to say, but large numbers of Muslim parents would not approve of their kids practicing Islam. This is one of the obstacles that teenagers who want to practice must face along with all the other obtacles in their teenage life.
Answer
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Name
Sohaib
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Profession
Question
Muslim parents not approving of their children practicing Islam??? Can you explain...
Answer
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Name
Haroon
- United States
Profession
Question
That's true Sohaib, but let's look at how the parents fit into this mix. Sometimes, a child can go to the masjid, learn something new and beautiful about Islam and then go home and have their household chastise and ridicule them for trying to become better...or even closer to Allah in some cases.
Answer
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Name
Haroon
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Profession
Question
Theoretically, we can talk about steps and solutions, but realistically, where do you brothers think that we should start? What is the #1 objective and primary step to solve the problem?
Answer
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Name
Sohaib
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Profession
Question
That's where the masjid comes in...Many parents may have come to the US with the mentality, back in the 60s and 70s, that they would go back to their countries. They came here for economic reasons, some even fleeing political oppression. In other words, their backgrounds more-or-less dictate their attitude towards Islam. The masjid needs to work to change the attitudes of parents and develop in them the understanding that they are here to stay and that the future of their children critically depends on their ability to understand Islam and to apply it in their lives.
Answer
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Name
Khalil
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Profession
Question
I think the number one thing that we should focus on is having affordable MUSLIM schools and simultaniously establishing an MSA in EVERY school across the nation. This is a big effort, but those that know how they should help they should start TODAY!
Answer
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Name
W. GOMEZ
- El Salvador
Profession
Question
Muslims in general should try to understand the minds of the Muslim teenagers in the west, from experiance, school is the worst place to find your identity.
Answer
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Name
Sohaib
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Profession
Question
Where do we start? Well, the simple answer is begin where the Prophet pbuh began. He is our role model as we should all submit. The prophet began by changing himself, his family, and the closest of kin. The key is in changing ourselves and our habits. Then we can move on to helping others alter of their habits.
Answer
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Name
Haroon
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Profession
Question
Having had experience in a Muslim school, I think that is a whole different can of worms to open...
Then comes the hardship of matching the level of academic excellence with that of Islamic benefits.
As a whole, it seems that we have very good ideas, but when it comes to supporting these ideas, people don't put up the type of funds that are necessary to make things happen.
Answer
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Name
Khalil
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Profession
Question
Oh boy... That is a big can of worms Haroon, you are right. I worked in an Islamic school for a time also. Almost ALL Islamic organizations in the country, whether political or religious, are in the beginning phases of their development. We cannot expect for miracles to occur today. We definitely want those miracles soon and shoot for them but we should expect them to come after hard work and dedication. May ALLAH give success.
Answer
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Name
Sohaib
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Profession
Question
Well, I don't think that Muslim communities would have a problem in supporting something like an Islamic school or a youth center. The problem, at least in my experience, is that community leaders in many cases do not seem to have the necessary vision of what is a priority for the community. Youth have been usually relegated to the end of the long list of priorities, and community leadership after community leadership comes and states that youth are a priority. It's time people turned these words into action. As I said before, many parents are uneducated, and they need the guidance of the community leaders to direct their efforts and financial support. If the community leadership comes out with a strong plan for the good of the youth, the parents will be very willing to put forth any support needed.
Answer
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Name
W. GOMEZ
- El Salvador
Profession
Question
I agree with SOHAIB, one other problem is that our community doesn't speak out as to why the Masjids don't improve the youth's needs.
Answer
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Name
Haroon
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Profession
Question
Alhamdulillah...
I think that we have covered several major points on this topic. At this point, anyone who has any concluding remarks should make them now.
Answer
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Name
Sohaib
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Profession
Question
O.K. It is a very important issue that we as a community need to deal with sooner than later. Perhaps future discussions can in sha' Allah focus on specific issues that youth face so that we may in sha' Allah be able to tackle specific problems and begin the process of building the correct identity of the Muslim youth in the west.
Answer
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Name
Khalil
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Profession
Question
I would just like to reiterate the importance of establishing an active and monitered (by people knowledgable in Islam) MSA in EVERY school in the nation where there is a significant Muslim presence. I mean secondary school all the way up to the University level. This is the first step that we can do now, without any serious funding needed at all. Then we can work from there.
Answer
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Name
W. GOMEZ
- El Salvador
Profession
Question
The problem with the youth is not the youth, but the Islamic Ummah. We, as an Ummah should change, as the Prophet(s) taught us.
Masallam
Answer
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Name
Haroon
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Profession
Question
Jazak Allahu khairan to the brothers for joining us for this discussion as well as those of our users that participated. Please join us next week for the Youth Tuesday Session from 6-8 p.m.
Answer
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Name
Maghrib
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Profession
Answer
It is Maghrib time now EST, so we will come back in a few minutes to continue the dialogue.
