The Ideal Image of Youth in Islam (3)

Seyed Hashem Moosavi

Introduction

In the previous section, we mentioned that Islam views youth as individuals full of passion and energy. Although they may be prone to mistakes, they are always given the opportunity to repent and return to the right path. Chastity, diligence, and kindness toward parents are among the other key qualities of an ideal young person according to the Qur’an and Islamic traditions-traits that reflect deep faith, moral maturity, and social responsibility, paving the way for both worldly success and eternal salvation. In this section, we continue exploring the characteristics of a virtuous youth from an Islamic perspective by examining three additional qualities that complement the ones previously discussed.

9. Avoiding Extremes

Youth is a time of intense emotions, strong willpower, and a thirst for new experiences. However, these very qualities can sometimes lead to excessive or negligent behaviour. From the perspective of Islam, moderation is one of the most essential principles of a balanced and successful life. Both excess and deficiency can lead a person astray, preventing spiritual growth and exposing them to moral and social harm.

Islam consistently emphasizes the value of moderation, especially through the verses of the Qur’an and the teachings of the infallible Imams (peace be upon them). In Surah Al-Furqan, verse 67, the Qur’an praises those who are balanced in their spending

 وَالَّذِینَ إِذَا أَنفَقُوا لَمْ یُسْرِفُوا وَلَمْ یَقْتُرُوا وَكَانَ بَیْنَ ذَٰلِكَ قَوَامًا

“And the servants of the All-beneficent are those who, when they spend, are neither extravagant nor stingy, but hold a balance between those two.” (25:67)

Imam Ali (peace be upon him) also condemns both excess and negligence, considering them signs of ignorance. He says:

لَا تَرَى الْجَاهِلَ إِلَّا مُفْرِطاً أَوْ مُفَرِّطاً

“You will not see the ignorant except as someone who either goes to extremes or falls short.[1]”

Furthermore, when the Qur’an recounts the wise advice of Luqman to his young son, it reflects the importance of moderation even in everyday actions, such as walking or speaking.

Luqman advises:

وَاقْصِدْ فِي مَشْيِكَ وَاغْضُضْ مِن صَوْتِكَ

“Be modest in your bearing and lower your voice….” (31:19)

Why Are Young People More Vulnerable to These Two Extremes?

Strong Emotions and Limited Experience:

Youth often enter the arena of life full of enthusiasm and motivation, but sometimes without deep understanding or mature judgment. This combination of intense feelings and limited life experience can lead to impulsive or unbalanced decisions.

Influence of Peer Pressure and Media:

Social media trends, peer influence, and group emotions can easily sway young individuals toward either extreme-whether reckless behaviour or complete withdrawal from social engagement.

Lack of Clear Boundaries in Upbringing:

The absence of proper role models within the family or society can prevent young people from recognizing healthy boundaries. They may struggle to distinguish between joy and frivolity, hard work and burnout, or true faith and rigid extremism.

Common Areas of Extremism Among Youth

a) In Worship and Spirituality:

Sometimes, a young person who has newly embraced religious practices becomes so deeply immersed in worship that they neglect other essential aspects of life-such as family, education, and social responsibilities. This type of imbalance was not uncommon even in the early days of Islam and was strongly criticized by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family). Addressing a group of young men who had abandoned marriage, sleep, and proper eating in fovour of constant worship, the Prophet said:

 إِنِّی لَسْتُ مِنْکُمْ، مَنْ رَغِبَ عَنْ سُنَّتِی فَلَیْسَ مِنِّی

“I am not of those who turn away from my tradition. Whoever turns away from my Sunnah is not of me.[2]”

b) In Entertainment and Pleasure-Seeking:

On the other end of the spectrum, some youth indulge excessively in leisure and entertainment, leading to aimlessness, unhealthy dependencies, and even sinful behaviour. This overindulgence distances them from purposeful living.

c) In Work or Study:

There are also those who become so consumed by their academic or professional goals that they ignore their physical and mental well-being. Conversely, some may lose motivation entirely, falling into apathy and stagnation.

These extremes, whether in spirituality, enjoyment, or ambition, highlight the importance of balance in a young person’s life-something that Islamic teachings repeatedly emphasize.

10. Good Character and Humility

Youth is a time of blossoming talents, physical and mental strength, and the formation of a person’s lasting character. In this stage of life, pride arising from newfound abilities is a common moral pitfall. Humility, as a key ethical virtue, plays a crucial role in maintaining mental well-being, fostering spiritual growth, and achieving social success-especially during this influential period.

The Holy Qur’an speaks of humility in a beautiful yet cautionary tone, particularly in verses that offer parental advice and guidance. In Surah Luqman, Luqman the Wise gives this heartfelt counsel to his young son:

وَلَا تُصَعِّرْ خَدَّكَ لِلنَّاسِ وَلَا تَمْشِ فِي الْأَرْضِ مَرَحًا إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخْتَالٍ فَخُورٍ

‘O my son! and do not turn your face away from people with pride, nor walk arrogantly upon the earth. Indeed, Allah does not like the arrogant and boastful.” (31:18)

Here, Luqman teaches his son that arrogance-whether in speech or behaviour-not only lacks beauty but is also detested by God.

Imam Ali (peace be upon him) also stresses the danger of arrogance and the value of humility. He says:

أوحَشُ الوَحشَةِ الكِبر

“The most dreadful form of loneliness is arrogance.[3]”

Why Is Humility Especially Important in Youth?

Humility holds particular significance during youth for several reasons:

1. Pride from Newfound Abilities:

Youth is often accompanied by physical strength, quick learning, and early achievements in education or career. These strengths can easily lead to a sense of pride or superiority, making humility a necessary counterbalance.

2. Greater Receptivity to Personal Development:

According to developmental psychology, a person’s character is largely shaped during youth. If humility is instilled during this formative stage, it is more likely to remain a lifelong trait.

3. Becoming a Role Model for Others:

A humble young person naturally becomes a role model-not only for their peers but even for older individuals. Their behaviour can influence and inspire others, creating a ripple effect of positive character-building across generations.

11. Self-Development (Tazkiyah al-Nafs)

Youth is the best time for self-development and spiritual refinement. It serves as a launching pad toward personal excellence and the key to eternal happiness. This is because the journey of self-purification and spiritual growth requires strong physical and mental capacity-qualities most abundant during the youthful years.

Therefore, a wise young person should strive to make the most of their peak strength to build their inner self and empower their soul. In doing so, they avoid wasting their physical and spiritual energy, and-according to the Qur’an-they protect themselves from the loss that afflicts most people.

The Holy Qur’an says in Surah Al- ‘Asr:

إِنَّ الْإِنْسانَ لَفِی خُسْرٍ إِلَّا الَّذِینَ آمَنُوا وَ عَمِلُوا الصَّالِحاتِ

“Indeed, mankind is in loss—except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds.” (103:2–3)

At this stage in life, negative traits and harmful habits have not yet taken deep root in the soul, making it easier to remove them and replace them with virtues. In contrast, at an older age, due to the entrenchment of habits and deep-seated faults, change becomes far more difficult and painful.

Rumi, the great Persian poet and mystic, beautifully highlights this truth in the Masnavi through the allegorical tale of the thorn tree and the thorn-cutter, symbolizing the need to remove harmful traits early on, before they become deeply rooted and hard to eliminate.

Summary of the Story: In this parable from Rumi’s Masnavi, a man would frequently plant thorns along a public pathway, causing harm and inconvenience to those who passed by. Despite repeated advice from the townspeople to stop, he ignored their warnings.

Eventually, the ruler of the city summoned him and ordered him to uproot the thorns immediately. The man promised to do so, but he failed to act. The thorns continued to grow, becoming an even greater nuisance.

The ruler called him in once more and warned: “Stop postponing! Each day that passes, the thorns grow stronger and more deeply rooted in the ground-while you grow weaker.”

Still, the man, made excuses, saying, “I’m still young-I have time.” To which the ruler replied, “Don’t you realize that with every passing day, the thorns grow tougher and you grow feebler?”

Year by year, the thorn bushes became larger, their roots deeper, their stems thicker, and their thorns sharper-while the thorn-cutter aged, his strength fading, until he no longer had the ability to remove them.

Rumi uses this powerful allegory to illustrate how bad traits and negative habits are like thorn bushes: if we do not remove them early-especially in the strength and flexibility of youth-they will grow stronger and more deeply embedded within us. Eventually, they become nearly impossible to uproot, leading to personal harm and spiritual ruin.

The message is clear: self-purification must begin while one still has the power to change.

Rumi, in his elegant verse, captures the urgency of self-purification in youth:

You who say “tomorrow,” know this well-
With every passing day, time continues its spell.
The wicked tree grows younger and tall,
While the uprooter grows weak and small.
The thorn grows firm, its roots increase,
The thorn-cutter’s strength begins to cease.
It grows in vigor, you decline in might,
Act now-don’t let your youth take flight!

This metaphor reflects a profound spiritual truth: bad habits and moral flaws are like young thorn trees. If not removed while one is still strong-especially in youth-they become increasingly entrenched and harder to eliminate with time.

Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified) beautifully reinforces this concept in his advice to the youth: “As long as you are young, you can take action. While you still possess the willpower and strength of youth, you can distance yourself from carnal desires, worldly temptations, and animalistic cravings. But if you neglect self-improvement during youth, it will be too late in old age. Do not wait until you are frail and worn. A young heart is pure and heavenly, and the impulses toward corruption are still weak. But with age, the roots of sin grow deeper and become nearly impossible to remove.[4]”

Similarly, Imam Ja‘far al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) highlights the unique spiritual capacity of the youth:

 من قرا القرآن و هو شاب مومن اختلط القرآن بلحمه و دمه

“One who recites the Qur’an in his youth, while being a believer, the Qur’an becomes interwoven with his flesh and blood.[5]”

This profound narration points to the openness and clarity of a young heart, allowing divine teachings to deeply influence one’s being.

Imam ‘Ali (peace be upon him), addressing his son Imam Hasan (peace be upon him), compares the heart of a youth to fertile soil:

و انما قلب الحدث کالارض الخالیه ما القی فیها من شی ء قبلته. فبادرتک بالادب قبل ان یقسو قلبک و یشتغل لُبُّک

“The heart of a youth is like an empty field-whatever is planted in it will take root. So, I hurried to teach you wisdom before your heart hardened and your mind became preoccupied.[6]”

Finally, the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) summarizes the divine reward for youth who engage in self-purification:

 «مَن اَحسَنَ عِبادَةَ اللّه فى شَبيبَتِهِ ، لَقّاهُ اللّه الحِكمَةَ عِندَ شَيبَتِهِ ، قالَ اللّه تَعالى : «وَ لَمَّا بَلَغَ اَشُدَّهُ وَاستَوى ءَآتَيناهُ حُكما وَ عِلما» ثُمَّ قالَ تَعالى : «وَ كَذالِكَ نَجزِى المُحسِنينَ؛

“Whoever worships God well in his youth, God will grant him wisdom in old age.”

Then he recited: ‘And when he reached maturity and full strength, We gave him wisdom and knowledge. Thus, do We reward the righteous[7].’ (Qur’an 28:14)

To conclude, the Prophet gave this remarkable comparison:

 فَضلُ الشّابِّ العابِدِ الَّذي تَعَبَّدَ في صِباهُ عَلَى الشَّيخِ الَّذي تَعَبَّدَ بَعدَ ما كَبُرَت سِنُّهُ كَفَضلِ المُرسَلينَ عَلى سائِرِ النّاسِ

“The merit of a young devotee who worships God in his youth is greater than that of an old man who begins worship only after aging—just as the status of prophets surpasses that of other people.[8]”

These teachings collectively emphasize that youth is the golden window for transformation. With physical vitality, mental clarity, and a heart still untainted by worldly attachments, a young person has the perfect tools to begin the journey of inner refinement and spiritual growth. The seeds planted in this season will bear the fruits of wisdom, character, and nearness to God in the seasons to come.

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[1] . Nahj Al Balagha, Hikma 70

[2] . Jami’ Al Akhbar, Sha’iry, Page 101

[3] . Ghurar Al Hikam, Hadith 2459

[4] . Mobarizeh Ba Nafs, page 85

[5] . Al Hayat, Volume 2, Page 164

[6] . Nahj Al Balagha, Letter 31

[7] . ‘Alam Al Deen Fi Sifat Al Mu’mineen, Page 296

[8] . Nahj Al Fasaha, page 588, Hadith 2050