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| Coping With Peer Pressure Ibrahim Abu Khalid What happens during the school years is
very important. Many parents and community leaders brush-off unfavorable
and unIslamic Muslim youth behaviour as being a short-term phenomena, a
mix of hormones and bad friends. Time, it is argued, will mature their
thoughts and bring them in line. This is rarely the case. The school years form a critical part of
the mental, religious and social development of our Muslim youth. Factors
such as the school's curriculum, social pressures and make-up can solidly
mould the direction the Muslim youth will take. by far the most dangerous
influence is that of 'peer pressure', whereby Muslims are pressured
(mentally and physically) to conform to some social 'norm' or group
behaviour. This can set an irreparable deviated path for the rest of their
lives. Pressures from the Education system In a country which boasts of heralding
individual and religious rights, Muslims are still on the lower rung of
the ladder. Even the school administration will exert pressures on Muslims
to study and participate in Islamically abhorred activities. Compulsory participation in sports events
brings many brothers and sisters into a state of conflict, who if refuse
to participate, will be publicly rebuked and humiliated. Sisters have been
known to be harassed to participate in swimming carnivals, gymnastics and
dancing, many of which can involve male participation. Not attending
formals, camps and discos are actually punished, through increased study
load, and also mentally through public disgrace (letting the school know
who isn't joining in). Other reported cases of teacher
discrimination in Australia includes teachers snatching the hijab off
sisters, neglecting cases of abuse against Muslims (Muslims are supposed
to have been used to being singled-out by now), and police investigations
into the activities of Muslims purely on the basis of their religion. Peer Pressure Fellow students can have a devastating
effect on the morale and piety of a Muslim. These pressures should never
be underestimated, which can intimidate a Muslim into taking drugs,
smoking, 'going out' to nightclubs, and having illegal relationships. Sisters feel compelled to waste money on
extravagant items, 'name-tags', such as Fiorelli and Benetton, for the
sole purpose of fitting-in. The preservation of her virginity is not a
virtue, but rather a disgrace, a symbol of her 'frigidity'. It sounds
crazy, but whether we ignore this or not, it is there and in a big way. Brothers must act and smell and look like
the Kuffaar to avoid persecution. Anything which will take them away from
their Islamic bonds. It's the right thing to abuse your parents, obeying
them is downright lack of personality. Who are we? The sad thing is that we have the solution
for all this, but we ignore it. Muslims don't have to feel that they're a
group without identity or meaning. Nor should we allow anyone to prevent
us from fulfilling our duties to Allah. Legally, we have many options to take in
practicing Islam at school. We have a right to pray during the specified
times. Many schools now have Friday Prayers in a designated room. It took
the joint effort of committed students, who themselves conduct the Khutbah.
We also have the right to celebrate our festivals, and wear our prescribed
clothing without harassment. Other religious groups are permitted by the
Schools to refrain from certain school activities. The Amish do not watch
television class, the Sikhs wear their turbans wherever they go, the
Jehovah Witness do not participate in the flag-raising or singing the
national anthem. We also have our rights to watch what we deem
permissible, and refrain from unIslamic events. Many precedents have been
set in this regard. It requires the strength of our brothers and sisters,
a joint effort, and the knowledge that Muslims will not disobey Allah for
the will of anyone. The Prophet (s.a.w.) and the Companions had
nothing but disgust for the way of life of the disbelievers. In fact, they
had so much disgust that they purposely did everything the opposite of
them. 'Umar bin al-Khattab (r.a.a.) actually forced the non-Muslims to
look differently from the Muslims. So why are we trying to imitate them? Muslims have been given honour through
Islam and nothing else. Not through expensive designer clothes, nor
expensive sneakers, or top ten CD's. In fact, if you examine the history
of the Kuffaar, you will find them so inconsistent in their behaviour that
only an idiot would want to copy them. Every year brings on a new fashion,
a new habit, a new religion. One year its drugs, then its alcohol, then
its mineral water. Australians can only copy Americans, which really shows
how much sense of identity they have. Americans love hip hop, so do
Australians. They wear baseball caps, well may as well follow them. Muslims however have their own identity,
history and religion, which millions have flocked to escape the filth and
stupidity of Kufr. Why are we doing the opposite? Our Youth have to be supported by the
community. When they are in need of assistance, we must be there. This
could be financially, or morally. When they begin on reforming themselves,
and assisting in bringing about a change, the solid support must be there
. with permission from: |
