By by Karima Omar

When those of us old enough to recall such ancient history as leisure suits and the Carter administration talk about challenges to Muslim youth, we can sound pretty smug at times. We like to rattle off an endless list of do’s and don’ts, of harams and halals and a few more harams thrown in for good measure, just in case things seem too comfortable for our younger counterparts.

Although we mean well, praying as always for Allah (SWT) to judge us by our intentions, not our actions, we have to admit that our expectations for youth haven’t really made contact with Planet Reality. They generally go something like this: no parties no dances no dating no girlfriends (unless you already happen to be a girl which really isn’t your fault) no green hair no Christmas no Big Mac’s no Calvins no Prince and you gotta wear all this stuff to school (unless you happen to be a boy but don’t look so smug—we’ll think of something weird for you to do, too)—now aren’t you glad you’re a Muslim!

Then, we expect the teenager (or young adult) in question to be fairly bursting at the seams with love of Islam. Although the contents of our long-winded lectures may be (somewhat) correct, our timing needs some work: for as Allah (SWT) revealed Islam to the pagan Arabs, whose morality could make a skin-headed punk blush, it was love first—with the rules and regulations following faithfully at its heels.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that we should all sit around and wait 13 years to start adhering to sha'ria—far from it. But our error lies in spotlighting the regulations while downplaying the beauty, dashing out heaping helpings of liver and spinach while hiding all of the sweet, cream-filled desserts in the back of the refrigerator. For, once we’ve had a taste of these, of the pure joy of Islam, we’ll do absolutely anything for Allah (SWT)—from cutting up our aprons to cover our hair and pouring our wine supplies in the streets, as the early Muslims did—to telling Michael Jackson to “beat it”.

I believe there’s one and only one reason for our apparent disregard of the grin realities of adolescence in our presentation of Islam: high school diplomas. Yep—that’s it. The fact that, by the grace of Allah (SWT) (and I do mean industrial-strength grace), we no longer have to endure the universal agonies, ecstasies, and neuroses of this social war zone causes some of us to be a little cavalier towards those of you who do. College isn’t as bad, since it usually has a less provincial atmosphere. By that time, people tend to be more open to new ideas, including the logic of Islam which frees them from all of the petty silliness they suffered through in high school.

Personally, I think every Muslim who has either accepted Islam as an adult or attended high school in a Muslim country—in other words, all of us geriatrics over 18—should be required to attend classes in an American public high school for just one day—in full hijab. Men included. No, no, astaghfirullah—just kidding. Honest. We’ll dress them up in robes and turbans and see how long they last. After this, I think we’ll be able to address the strange and wonderful dilemma of the American Muslim youth with a touch of realism—as in reality, what a concept!

Now, we can talk about the great youth in Islamic history, youth whose valor and heroism puts Muslims of all ages to shame. We can talk about Hadhrat Ali (RA), the second person to accept Islam, who risked his life for Rasulullah (SAW) when he was just a teenager; we can talk about Maaz bin Amar and Maaz bin Arfa, the boys who killed Abu Jahl; we can talk about Hadhrat Aisha (RA) who was busy asking all sorts of insightful questions, learning Qur’an, and absorbing the Way of the Prophet (SAW) at an age when the biggest worry of most girls is getting day-glo shoelaces for their roller skates. But sometimes, these great young Muslims seem so distant. Sure, in our strong