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By Shahla Khan, IFN Staff Reporter
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Tuesday, 03 November 2009 |
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Page 3 of 6
The three D’s
Being Muslim does not protect one to the ills of society, and discrimination is not the only problem Muslim teens in the U.S. are facing. Harmful trends are arising within the Muslim teen population itself, some of which are issues not usually discussed at the dinner table, nor at Sunday school of at mosque youth group meetings.
The three D’s — dating, drinking, and drugs — are not uncommon phenomena and are becoming more prevalent as we embark upon a new era in the American Muslim experience. Dating, alcohol, drugs, and even sex outside of marriage are becoming common place nowadays among all teens, and though Islam places strong emphasis on avoiding these matters, young Muslims are following the trend as well.
“Dating, I think, is probably one of the most prevalent issues when it comes to Muslim teens,” says Imam Tahir Anwar, director of Religious Services at the South Bay Islamic Association in San Jose, Calif. “Drugs are the next biggest issue and alcohol after that. Kids are just doing it to look cool because everyone else is doing it. The sad part is, not only are these things un-Islamic, they’re not really accepted by society in general. I don’t necessarily think they are ‘hard-pushers,’ just kids who have been influenced in the wrong way. They need the right guidance — at home, from good role models, and especially from the community.”
Anwar, who is also an Islamic Studies teacher at Granada Islamic School in nearby Santa Clara, feels that high school is the critical period for most Muslim teens, in terms of developing their identities and characters.
“High school is the make-it or break-it age,” he said. “Some kids develop a strong sense of realization and deen-consciousness while others go astray. It’s important that teenagers realize the impact of the decisions they make during this time — the friends they choose, the activities they go to — these habits stay with them throughout college when they’re on their own and begin to discover themselves fully and craft themselves into the individuals they want to be for the rest of their lives.”
Anwar feels that community involvement is essential when it comes to educating both teens and families about the “taboos” plaguing the Muslim youth.
“One of the main reasons why support systems don’t exist for teens is because many people don’t even know these issues exist,” said Anwar. “Parents are especially in denial; they never want to believe that it’s actually happening to their child. This can be very detrimental in getting the teen help.”
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Last Updated ( Friday, 04 December 2009 )
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