The importance of supporting youth initiatives: First of all, may Allah reward the organizers for the upcoming program at Darul Islah “The Iron Iman”.
It is essential that we support YM-Teaneck and attend these local programs to encourage and support our youth develop strong leadership skills. The more we engage and welcome the youth, the brighter the future will be for Muslims in America.
No doubt, Muslims in America are blessed in so many different ways. Yet most of these individuals are distant from the masjid. Even my generation, a group of successful professionals who are either in their 30s or approaching that age bracket are disinfrenchised from the masjid. There are many reasons why this group of jumua attendees keep their distance but this is obviously not a healthy sign for Muslims in America. We can’t afford to lose these individuals who function so well in the corporate culture but cannot find a way to contribute to a healthy masjid culture. Unfortunately, our mosques will continue to look like foreign islands in the sea of mainstream culture. Islam will become part of mainstream culture when Muslims stop avoiding and isolating themselves as “foreigners”.
Again, unless we engage ourselves in planting seeds of Islam in America, we will continue to live on the edge of the American society as “foreigners”. For this reason, initiatives must be taken by the younger generation and scholars to bridge this void. No denying that we must engage our activities based on the wisdom of adults and vigor of the youth. Yet, we often find this vigor that rejuvinates a nation is missing from our mosques.
I ask you you to count the number of mosques in New Jersey and I ask you to identify an ongoing successful youth program in New Jersey. I believe my readers are more than capable of coming up with a diagnosis and disparity that exists within our mosques. Islam is the middle path. We must do our part to promote a healthy community where youth, women, and men are connected to the Divine Will.
