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By Shahla Khan, IFN Staff Reporter
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Tuesday, 03 November 2009 |
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Page 5 of 6
Peer pressure
It is safe to say that societal norms have a substantial effect on the decisions many teens make on a daily basis. The influence of peers can have both positive and negative outcomes, and the “right or wrongness” about a certain decision is only as good or bad as it seems to be in the eyes of others.
“It’s tough to say no to your friends when they are going out in mixed gatherings, or to answer people when they ask me about my religion,” said 16-year-old Basil Ibrahim* of Orange County, Calif. “Sometimes, I do feel embarrassed to be Muslim just because of all the bad things people will think about me. I’m afraid to lose my friends, so I will act like them to fit in. But later, I feel bad about the decisions I made because I know that it’s probably not what God wanted me to do.”
Teens face several areas of peer pressure; pressure to do well in school, pressure to be the perfect Muslim, even pressure towards taking a first sip of alcohol. It may be that many youth are unaware of the extremity of the ills around them and are simply choosing the easiest path for a certain situation.
“I’ve learned that Muslim youth are no different than the general public youth. They are prone to make the same mistakes other people do,” said Munir Iqtish of the Muslim American Society Bay Area Chapter. “Just being a Muslim doesn’t make someone immune to their surroundings. Sometimes people may say, ‘Oh how can you have a girlfriend, you are a Muslim,’ or ‘Why does he drink, he is a Muslim.’ People don’t realize that sometimes, that’s just the nature of things or our society.”
As a well-known speaker of MAS and with ten years of experience working as a youth mentor and counselor, Iqtish, has become a role model for Muslim youth throughout California. Through his active participation in northern California Islamic Centers, college campuses, and youth study circles, Iqtish is often recognized for offering outstanding guidance while tackling tough issues facing teens and parents today.
“It’s important to remember that no matter how big a problem the youth are involved in, whether it be sexual relations, drugs, alcohol, never judge them because of their mistakes,” said Iqtish. “Always have open arms and try to work on their problems with them. Help them put their past behind them and look at ways we can help them move forward.”
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Last Updated ( Friday, 04 December 2009 )
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