A Glance At the World of Youth
E. Political Power and Authority:
With the advancement of social living and civilization and its complications, the role of government and its importance in the life of an individual and community becomes high, and the interference of government in vital and necessary issues, becomes apparent, as well as, in social, intellectual, educational, economical, cultural and informative matters.
In addition, it is upon the government to undertake the responsibility of education and its organization, supervise the ministry of information and direct other ministries according to its general politics and aims, and enact rules and regulations governing its citizens, therefore, the goverment plays a vital role in the formation of individual conduct and culture, positively or negatively.
Thus, the Islamic message considers the formation of an Islamic government as an obligatory matter, and defines Islamic government as: "A government established on the basis of Islam and its principles", and tries to make the government an instrument of execution, indvidual and community building and governing the community on the basis of Islamic Shari'a. In view of this, the Islamic scholars term the existence of an Imam (a leader) as a mercy, i.e., he can encourage people toward obedience and submission (to Allah's Commands) and discourages them from sin and disobediences, because he is the one who coordinates life's construction and leads it on the basis of Islamic values and principles through his government.
The government contributes in the formation of an individual's conduct, and the political powers and parties also contribute in the formation of an individual's conduct, especially the youths, because they are more emotional and easy to be affiliated with a particular political group or movement and accept its thoughts and manifestations, whether it carries luminous ideas based on Islamic principles and its original values or being deviated parties, ideas and thoughts. Thus, it is the parents' duty to direct their children toward the right direction, and guard them against affiliating with deviated parties or groups.
f. The Culture and Beliefs of the Youths:
"It is He Who brought you forth from the wombs of your mothers when you knew nothing and He gave you hearing and sight and the hearts; that you may give thanks (to Allah)." Holy Qur'an (The Bee 16:78) "Read! and your Lord is Most Honourable, Who taught (to write) with the pen, Taught man that which he knew not. Nay! man is most surely inordinate, because he sees himself free from want." Holy Qur'an (The Clot 96:4-7)
"...those truly fear Allah, among His servants, who have knowledge..." Holy Qur'an (The Originator 35:28)
These holy verses, among others, show the importance of knowledge and education, and the relationship between knowledge and conduct. For instance, thanksgiving and fear, i.e., submission and obedience to the laws and morals, before it transforms into reality, passes certain stages starting from imagination, which is the first step of an action, then, it inclines to this imagination, then, after being satisfied with it, chooses it and transforms it into action.
This is how imagination transforms into action through intellectual and psychological processes. It is clear that the belief and culture of a person contributes in creating the ideas and imaginations governing his stance and actions, as well as, depending on it.
The studies and researches conducted, in this field, show that the culture, ideas and beliefs of a person contribute immensely to his conduct, the statistics confirm that the aggression and deviation in the ignorant people, or who lack civilization and knowledge or who do not believe in Allah or the Judgement Day and the Hereafter, is related to their ignorance and unconsciousness.
Therefore, knowledge and cultural adaptation which a person bears, participate in guarding him against failure and practicing crimes and aggression, as it, also, participates, immensely, in the belief in Allah and the Hereafter, good conduct and morals. Thus, a person who is wise and conscious, socially and knowledgeably, about the actions that tempt him, and understands their bad consequences, both in this world and the Hereafter, will refrain from performing these acts due to the knowledge he has.
And a knowledgeable and civilized person who is conscious of his knowledge, respects his personality, because he knows the essence of his being in the society and evaluates his responsibilities before the Lord of the worlds Who bestowed on him knowledge and consciousness. Therefore, he refrains from committing crimes, sins and other immoral actions.
However, the more knowledge, piety, chasteness and self-respect in a person increases due to his civilization, social consciousness and his belief in Allah, the more his social dignity, respect for the laws that protect his interest, as well as, the interests of the community will increase. This will also help him in shunning the acts which downgrade his personality, put him under the divine and world by punishments, social contempt and general hatred. Whereas, an ignorant and uncultured person who does not know the essence of his carelessness to commit any kind of atrocity and crime will downgrade his own personality.
It is reported, in one of the traditions of the Holy Imams of Ahlul-Bait (a.s.) about the importance of respecting man's personality, and knowing the essence of his existence and consciousness about the consequences of his actions, thus: "Do not feel secure from the evil of a person who outrages his self."(12) Another hadith says: "An ignorant companion is an inconvenience."(13)
And it has come in another hadith; an explanation of the difficulty of guiding an ignorant man after he has become deviated and changing his accustomed conduct, which shows the danger of ignorance and its effect on deviation and committing crimes. In a hadith, Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (a.s.) says: "Teaching an ignorant (person) and changing his accustomed conduct appears to be a miracle."(14) Certainly the researches, field statistics and scientific analyses reveal that self sincerity and conduct require three basic elements, they are: 1. Knowledge and awareness on the conduct and actions which a person will present, thus, a person who knows the harm of beer, drugs, smoking, gambling and recklessness, and the danger of fornication and adultery, will not go close to them talking of committing them. But, as for a person who is controlled by instinct and ignorance, will become the victim of those destuctive actions, destroying his wealth, health and dignity in them. Therefore, it is obligatory to enlighten the youths, and educate them on the incidents, statistics and experiences which victimized others (men and women), so that they can be of those who are alert and refrain from committing those acts.
And for strengthening the conduct of a person, there is a need to spread knowledge, awareness, and civilization and control ignorance and illiteracy. The school and cultural curriculum, or system for the people, should be a system which concerns itself with man's guidance against deviated, criminal acts.
Because knowledge gives man awareness on what is going on and understanding it in a true, scientific way, thus, he can have correct relations with it, far from deviation and ignorance. Likewise, it gives his self awareness and understanding of the essence of his existence and personality, therefore, he can have good relations with his person and guard his dignity and security. It gives him understanding of the actions and processes which stir in his self and direct him toward his actions, so as to study it and act consciously toward it in order to turn down those which direct him to evil and viciousness and to follow those that guide him to virtue.
Also, knowledge gives man the ability to understand the usefulness and harmfulness of an action which returns to him or his community. He responds to the useful and good ones and rejects the evil and vicious ones. It gives him an ablity to understand his past, present and future and protects him against falling into danger, mistakes and wasting good opportunities, as it gives him the understanding of reality and his surroundings and he knows how to deal with it and guard himself against problems...this is how knowledge becomes man's protector and director in life.
- Beliefs: Beliefs, ideas and civilization of a person forms a basic stimulant upon performing a particular action or refraining from it. Thus, malicious ideas and thoughts, like marxism and capitalism, which call for unbridled freedom and the malicious ideas of psychologists and other ideas which were formed on a material basis deprived of morals and belief in Allah inflict a lot of damages on the community. Surely, the only pure and real ideology for the human generation is Islam, which has arranged human conduct on the basis of belief, because it prohibits everything which afflicts harmful results on the wellbeing of man, as well as, community interests.
In addition, Islam prohibits fornication, homosexuality, beer, gambling, drugs, slaughter, rape and violation of women, a stage that has reached untold proportions of selling millions of young girls for sexual purposes in Western countries. Therefore, the youth who believe in Allah and the Day of Ressurection, protect themselves against those actions which result in loss of health, wealth and dignity and often end with imprisonment and death, and the downgrading of the personality.
Furthermore, the researches and statistics conducted by some institutions confirmed that the percentage of crime, deviation and social problems and vices in Europe, America, Russia, Japan and other countries of the world, is increasing upon all the educational, scientific and economical develpments enjoyed there. This is because the knowledge, awareness and social welfare (in those countries) does not safeguard man from crime, deviation and negativism.
Man can understand the evil and danger of lying, forgery, fornication, drugs, smoking, extravagance, oppression, manslaugther, stealing, raping, pride...etc., but he is practicing it, because the knowledge which is deprived him of the belief in Allah and the Hereafter will not protect against those crimes...in view of this, the holy Qur'an joins knowledge with belief, and says: "...Allah will raise up to (suitable) ranks (and degrees) those of you who believe and who have been granted (mystic) knowledge.." Holy Qur'an (The Woman Who Pleads 58:11) Therefore man's progress and priority will not be achieved unless through interaction between knowledge and belief.
- Willingness: Will is the ability to perform an act or refrain from it. In short, it is that stance which shows a human's essence, and willingness is the basis of sharia's responsibility of doing an act. Thus, a man who has the power of will is able to access the self stances and desires, and face the problems and events... for this, his conduct will be well founded. The secret of personal power, basically, is will power, as will power is one of the effective ways of man's success, achieving his goals and the security of his future...thus, with the power of will, man can fight against fornication, forbidden wealth and those who want to direct him to evil work. And, likewise, with the power of will, man drinks alcohol, smokes, takes drugs, etc., hence, educating the power of will is Islam's interest and aims at it morally and through education.
Therefore, the youths need to respect their self will, so as to enter the world of life with full dignity founded on good conduct and behavior. Before taking any resolution, he has to weigh the consequences, and think, seriously, about what he wants to do, especially because he is on a dangerous stage. And the most important factors for strengthening the will are: belief in Allah Ta'ala, patience, worshipping like Fasting, prayers and jihad, teaching the self to stand against prohibited things, practicing and preserving the obligatory acts, self satisfaction, struggling to achieve good acts and aims and expelling indecision and anxious ideas.
- Problems of the Youths
Every stage of life has its own features from mind and bodily formations, as well as, bodily diseases, psychological problems, and behavioral practices. So, every stage of childhood and the stage before puberty, as well as, the puberty stage, itself, and, likewise, elderliness has its own features, and in every stage a person carries the features of the past stage which often paves the way for the subsequent stage. Any problem found in the stage of puberty and youth will be the most dangerous one and the most important. It is of great benefit to mention this problem which happens to the youths and causes inconvenience to them, as well as, to their families and community, they are:
The Youth and Abandoning School
Rebellion
Supremacy of Imagination and Reverie
Pride and Carelessness About the Future
Anxiety
Youths and the Sexual Urge
Taking Drugs and Smoking
Idleness
The Youth and Abandoning School:
Education, knowledge and preparing for life, is a fundamental issue in human life, hence, whoever lacks a good education, which prepares him to be beneficial to the community and be a good mannered person, morally and spiritually, becomes very dangerous, both to himself and his community. And a person who lacks sufficient knowledge and awareness in his life, is an ignorant fellow who harms himself and his community, neither playing a role in the growth of himself or his community. Consequenthy, ignorant parents will not know how to educate their children; an ignorant wife will not know how to deal with her husband, and an ignorant farmer will not know how to use modern ways on his farm and, likewise, an ignorant rich man will not be able to use his wealth and property correctly.
This is how ignorance affects every angle of life. More than that, ignorance is the source of all evils and backwardness and even being the fundamental cause of all crimes in the society. Thus, an ignorant society will not be able to undertake any plans of development or preventing crime, or solving its political, security, economic an social problems.
Likewise, an illiterate youth or he who does not have enough knowledge and awareness will not be able to play any role in the development of the society, nor help himself or his family, as expected. The researches and statistics show that illiteracy and ignorance, as well as, lack of consciousness and civilization are among the fundamental causes of youths' problems. Therefore, the problems of illiteracy and unemployment are among the most important problems which face the states and the families. Furthermore, there are the problems of school abandoning in the primary, secondary or university level. Surely, they are among the greatest problems which direct the life and future of the youths towards danger, and encourage them towards idleness, wandering, committing crimes and other vices. Indeed, abandoning school has its own spiritual, intellectual, social, economic, psychological and, sometimes, health problems. Also, vagrancy and loss of shelter resulting from political persecutions, and having no peaceful stability, play their greatest roles in the abandoning of school and the spread of illiteracy. Likewise, the mistreatment by school authorities or teachers' bad conduct toward the students, contribute, immensely, to the abandoning of school by some students.
Certainly, a student's facing psychological problems may be caused by the family, parents' bad conduct or problems among themselves. Even the problem of divorce often causes a split between children or the slackness of the parents toward their children's education and welfare, as well as, preparing ways for the continuation of their education may all play a part in the disruption of a child's education and cause some students to abandon school.
Also, lack of desire towards education by a student, and his relation with bad friends and those who are unsuccessful in their lives, helps a lot in the abandoning of school by a student. However, poverty is among the most important factors in causing the giving up of studies, because poor families cannot provide the necessary needs for their children to study, which contributes in the abandoning of school by a student in the early stage, and will leave him with insufficient means to find a good job that will support his social needs. Thus, these problems, and the like, need to be thoroughly studied in order to find suitable solutions to them.
- Rebellion
The word rebellion absolutely gives a negative image or meaning, for it always means disobedience and disapproval if supported. But, in Islamic terminology it means going against the power, laws, ideologies and conducts that are pure and right or going against things which deserve honour and respect. Rebellion is not mere rejection and disapproving of what people like, because there are some laws, ideologies and opinions which are not right and are liable to rebellion and disapproval.
In view of this, the rebellion that occurs in the life of the youths, which are caused by the feeling of power and challenging the need for change, has two opposite outlooks; a negative and harmful outlook and a positive outlook which helps in the community's progress and safeguarding its interests. Certainly, the negative rebellion which occurs in the youths and young children is the most serious and complicated one which faces families and societies.
Likewise, negative rebellion or the rebellion against what deserves respect and honour, like pure ideology and laws, subjective, as well as, objective, have causes which deserve to be studied with consciousness and wisdom. Because rebellion by the youths is a dangerous matter to the family and the community at large, and it starts from the cradles of the family, and by refusing the commands of the parents or the pure cultures and ideologies of the family and going against them, children put themselves in great danger.
Then, there is rebellion against the school laws, which are comprised of coming to school on time and every day, writing class work, respecting the teachers, as well as, fellow students, and at the same time, rebellion against the community's rules and regulations. Statistics conducted in 1970 show that: "20 % of the youths of France who were under 30 years of age and 30 % from the men who were below 40 years of age participated in a demonstration in May of 1968 in France. It was confirmed, by this analysis, that the younger generations of the community, in a short time, could react or participate in any rebellion against the ruling power, however, it was confirmed by another research that it is not possible to generalize this result."(15) Rebellion has its own causes which encourage it, and those which may be the most apparent, are the following:
a. Dictatorial relationship of some parents towards their children, supprssing their wills and insisting on restricting them of things which are not restricted by the Shari'a. The parents do not change their relationship with the youths, continuing to treat them like a child, who is not conscious, by their commands, interfere in their affairs like studies, marriage, work, daily activites and economic matters and even their mode of dress.......which forces some children to rebellion and disapproval and ends up in the showing of no respect for the ideas and commandments of the parents. Thus, problems occur and misunderstandings begin to appear between them, and sometimes end in bad results, disrespect or even leaving the parents' house.
Indeed, Islam has studied carefully these problems so as to bring obedience and respect between both sides. However, Islam differentiates between loyalty to one's parents and submission to them, as it differentiates between guidance, directing and educating, and forcing and dictating their will and desires on the children.
The Islamic jurisprudence necessitates the loyalty and goodness to parents, but, it does not necessitate submission except to Allah, the Almighty, and anything which is not against His laws, for instance, the Islamic Shari'a does not necessitate submission upon a girl or a boy to their parents when the parents want to conduct their marriage against their own choice and wish.
The parents' duty is to guide their children to the right path and protect them against what is harmful to them, starting from the legal responsibility, necessity of enjoining good and forbiding evil, holding any pure means for their living less they fall into crisis and failure in their life, as well as, making them understand that the disapproval of the parents to the choice of their children is just for their own good and they should do so with a cool temper and wisdom. This is the best way to change them and keep them from falling into crisis and calamities. It is a mistake for the parents to force their ideas, thoughts and their own way of life, which is not founded legally, upon their children, but, for mere affinity or intimacy or social custom, which makes them strike against their children's ideas and their modern way of life.
Imam Ali (a.s.) has warned parents against this, in his famous saying:
"Do not force your ethics or customs on your children, because they are created in an era different from yours."(16) Surely, this Islamic analysis on the means of life's progress and what occurs between generations, will shed light on most of the complicated matters between parents and children, which often result in rebellion and disobedence. When Islam studies and analyzes this matter, it calls for thorough investigation, on the matter, as an issue of civilization in the life of a human being based on the fundamentals of good morals. Surely, Islam has warned parents and stops them from bad relationships with their children which may result in rebellion and disobedence.
It is reported in a Prophetic tradition that the prophet said: "Oh Ali! Allah and religion has cursed those who hold their children responsible for their disobedience (because they, themselves, did not train them)."(17) All this is to preserve and safeguard the new generations from negative rebellion which the family, nations and communities face that incline toward the materialistic idea and which contradicts the Islamic perspectives on this matter. Even though the parents take on this responsibility, it is important that they guide and encourage their children to love their parents, respect them, listen to their advice, as well as, refrain from rebelling against them.
Therefore, educating a child, showing him the rights of the parents and how to associate and live with them are among the effective factors in controlling rebellion. Surely, family life, especially a good relationship between the parents and the respect between them, or a bad relationship between them, has a great effect in solving or complicating such problems.
b. School: As the parents' conduct and relationship, toward their children, contributes in creating the spirit of negative rebellion, so, also, the school plays a vital role in this field. The system, and complicated ways of dealing with a student, sometimes makes him feel that it is trespassing against his personality and his studies, or it does not correspond with the realty of his life, thus, it forces him to challenge the school's system, create problems and, later on, his leaving the school. Therefore, it is necessary for the school to adjust its communal conditions and systems to the spirit of the times, and deal with a student by considering the nature of a teenager and his problems in this stage, through good conduct and mercy, and not with pressure and punishment, except if it becomes necessary.
c: The nature of a teenager and his morals and spiritual formations: The spiritual nature, as well as, the state of mind, and the level of education, has its own great contribution in rebellion, disapproval and challenges of a teenager. Because the teenage stage is a stage of pride and emotion and power, it is a stage of self feelings, separation from the parent and freedom, likewise, it is a stage of challenging anything that stands in his way, whether it be the family, government or the community: Thus, negative rebellion occurs and, likewise, the positive one.
Therefore, the solution to negative rebellion is to give much concern to the issue of education and make them understand the problem of that stage, as well as, the shunning of the stimulated atmosphere which surrounds teenagers. Hence, young boys and girls who are conscious and civilized will understand this analysis and the problems, as well as, accept the solutions without rebellion or disapproval, not the same as the uncultured and illiterate youth will deal with it; ignorantly.
d. Conditions and circumstances: Surely, economic, intellectual, social and political conditions and circumstances, as well as, the laws and declarations, have a great effect - both positively and negatively vis-a-vis the government and the laws - on the conduct of the youths and their stance.
Thus, in a condition where the generation of youths are facing poverty and needs, the security of their future activities, through intellectual and political terrorism and racial discrimination, will force them to challenge and rebel against it with all their might, as is happening in some countries of the world. Therefore, intellectual freedom, reforming the economic conditions (and peoples' welfare), and respecting peoples' rights, is the only solution to the problem of negative rebellion and disobedience, not through the use of power and intellectual pressures and terrorism.