Throughout his noble life, Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) had emphasized the significance of the youth.
He empowered the young men and women of his time and left behind an extraordinary legacy that continues to inspire young people till this very day.
The Prophet was a genius in dealing with the youth. Love was the underlining factor behind his relationship with the youth. His charisma and personality attracted children, teenagers, and young adults to his message in droves.
When studying the seerah, it is evident that a large number of his followers were in fact young people. The well-known author Adil Salahi, writes in his biography of the Prophet,
“A new message which advocates a total change in the social order often attracts young people whose vision of a better life gives them a strong motive to work hard for their beliefs.” [1]
Empathy and Empowerment
The Prophet’s message was an empowering message that transformed the youth in becoming the best they could be. Salahi explains,
“Islam has a simple message which appeals directly to the human mind and strongly appeals to human nature. Many of these young people were of great character.”[2]
The Prophetic approach in interacting with the youth was that of anchoring the soul to its innate nature: the fiṭrah. With love and empathy, the Prophet nourished the youth; he instructed them, advised them, empowered them, and developed them.
So, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) developed them emotionally and spiritually. He demonstrated to the world the incredible heights that could be reached with young people marching in the frontlines.
This is not an exaggeration in any way, but in fact, a reality that had manifested itself in seventh century Arabia under the leadership, mentorship, and guidance of the Prophet.
The Prophet knew very well the greatness and potential of the youth. For this reason, he was extremely keen on engaging them. Added to this, the youth possessed a profound love for the Prophet. The bond was such that they were ready to sacrifice their own lives for him.
How did the Prophet develop such a strong connection with the youth? Why was he so successful in attracting the young generation to his cause?
In the following series of articles, I will address these very points and present scenes from the seerah that illustrate how the Prophet interacted with the youth and how he established healthy relationships with them.
The Youth of the Cave
The Surah titled Al-Kahf or “The Cave,” presents the narrative of a group of young men who retreated to a cave in order to protect their faith and lives. It provides inspiration to young people who are struggling to maintain their identity and religion amongst various temptations and hardships.
Despite all the extreme challenges, the young men in this Surah exhibited firm faith. As a result, God increased them in guidance:
{They were young men who believed in their Lord, and We increased them in guidance.} (Al-Kahf 18:13).
Surat al-Kahf responds to those who questioned the Prophet about the strange and wondrous tale of a group of young men in ancient times, also known as the “sleepers of the cave.”
Imam Ibn Kathir comments that these were youth who were more accepting of the truth and more guided than the elders who had become stubbornly set in their ways and clung to the religion of falsehood. He writes,
“For the same reason, most of those who responded to Allah and His Messenger were young people.
As for the elders of Quraysh, most of them kept to their religion and only few of them became Muslims. So Allah tells us that the people of the cave were young men.” [3]
Prime Example
Surat al Kahf serves as a timeless gem for all believers until the end of time—especially for the youth. God loved the actions of these young men and recorded their tale in the eternal guidance to humanity, the Qur’an. This elucidates the honor God gives to young people who believe in Him.
This Surah gave the Prophet and his followers solace. It was revealed during the Makkan period when believers were facing enormous opposition and the possibility of being killed—similar to the “sleepers of the cave.” It strengthened the Prophet morally and spiritually as well as motivated him to have trust in the youth, after having full confidence in God of course.
A warm relationship
The Prophet had a very special place for the youth in his heart. From the children in his family to the young people in the community, everyone got to experience the warmth of his presence and love.
It is reported that the Prophet used to kiss and play with his grandchildren. Imam Al-Bukhari cites the following incident in his marvelous compilation of Prophetic traditions:
Allah’s Messenger kissed Al-Ḥasan bin `Ali while Al-Aqra` bin Ḥabis At-Tamimi was sitting beside him.
Al-Aqra` said, “I have ten children and I have never kissed anyone of them.”
Allah’s Messenger cast a look at him and said, “Whoever is not merciful to others, will not be treated mercifully.” [4]
Kindness and Compassion
It was a part of his nature to show compassion by way of embracing, kissing, cuddling, smiling, etc. In the contemporary world, doctors advise us to provide such form of attention to children as this positively impacts their growth.
This practice was intrinsically a part of the Prophet’s conduct. Any child or young person who would encounter the Prophet would be deeply affected by his merciful conduct. Usama bin Zaid narrated:
“Allah’s Messenger used to put me on (one of) his thighs and put Al-Ḥasan bin ‘Ali on his other thigh, and then embrace us and say, “O Allah! Please be Merciful to them as I am merciful to them.” [5]
It is furthermore evident from seerah and Ḥadith literature that the Prophet had a very intimate and emotional bond with his own children. Upon the death of his beloved son Ibrahim, the Prophet wept and expressed his grief.
The great Indian Scholar Sayyed Abul Hasan Ali Nadwi makes mention of the Prophet’s reaction to the passing of his beloved son: He said in sorrow,
“The eye weeps and the heart is sad, but we do not say anything to incur the anger of Allah. We are sad, O Ibrahim.”
The Prophet’s love and mercy was extended to all youth irrespective of their background or religion. After the terrible incident at Ṭa’if, the angel of the mountains asked the Prophet if he wanted him to destroy the town. The Prophet replied in the negative and emphasized that perhaps their children will one day embrace Islam.
Safiur Rahman al-Mubarakpuri makes mention of the Prophet’s reply to the angel of al-Akhshabain:
“No, I hope that Allah will let them beget [offspring] who will worship Allah alone, and will worship none besides him.”[1]
It is very interesting that the Prophet specifically referred to the children worshiping God in the future. This indicated the Prophet’s hope in the next generation. His healthy relationships were not limited to members of his community, but in fact, surpassed all religious and cultural barriers.
The Jewish boy
The following narration found in the great hadith collection of Imam al-Nawawi, encapsulates the genuine nature of the Prophet and his relationship with a young Jewish boy:
Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
A young Jewish boy who was in the service of the Prophet fell ill. The Prophet went to visit him. He sat down by his head and said to him, “Embrace Islam.”
The little boy looked at his father who was sitting beside him. He said: “Obey Abul-Qasim (i.e., the Messenger of Allah).”
So he embraced Islam and the Prophet stepped out saying, “Praise be to Allah Who has saved him from Hell-fire.”[2]
The privilege to serve the Prophet was something that every Muslim desired. The Jewish boy was privileged to serve the Prophet and was honored by the Prophet visiting him during his illness and witnessing his shahadah before his death.
Anas ibn Malik
Another one of the servants of the Prophet was a young boy by the name of Anas ibn Malik. Because Anas was so close to the Prophet, he knew the inner and outer aspects of his character.
Maintaining a calm demeanor with a servant is a challenging task let alone if that servant is also a child.
Despite all of this, the Prophet still displayed the finest of conduct with those who were under his authority.
In describing the Prophet’s impeccable character, Anas says,
“I served Allah’s Messenger for ten years, and, by Allah, he never said to me any harsh word, and he never said to me about a thing as to why I had done that and as to why I had not done that.”[3]
Abdul Malik Mujahid remarks,
“In the history of the world, has there ever been a master with such immaculate character? There has not been a man in history known for treating his servants in such a kind way, not for a day or two, let alone for ten whole years.”[4]
It is quite natural for a ten year old to make a mistake and for an adult to correct or discipline. However, the Prophet’s approach was wise, gentle, cool, calm, and collected. Youth need love and understanding—this is what the Prophet provided them with.
Anas describes the touch and the aura of Prophet in the following words:
“I found the hands of Allah’s Messenger softer than silk. I never smelt a perfume better than the smell of Allah’s Messenger.”[5]
Zayd ibn Harithah
According to Adil Salahi, the first man to accept Islam was Zayd ibn Ḥarithah, a youth servant of the Prophet during the days in Makkah.
Zayd used to live with the Prophet, making him a regular recipient of the Prophet’s kindness and love. One day Zayd’s father and uncle came to Makkah with the intention of emancipating him.
Upon their request, the Prophet gave Zayd a choice to either go with his father or to stay with him. Without hesitating, Zayd told the Prophet that he wanted to stay with him. He told his father, “I have seen certain things with this man and I will never leave him to go anywhere.”[6] Most surely, Zayd found in the Prophet what he did not find in anyone else. He loved the Prophet and the Prophet loved him.
Salahi writes, “Two or three years after Zayd’s death, the Prophet mentioned him and said, “He was one of the people I loved the most.“[7]
Youth’s Love for the Prophet
Love was the underlining factor behind the Prophet’s relationship with the youth. The love that the youth possessed for the Prophet transcended this world and translated into unimaginable acts of courage and sacrifice.
When the Makkan assassins advanced towards the Prophet’s house, they were surprised to see that he was not there. Instead, they found `Ali ibn Abi Ṭalib lying on the Prophet’s bed covered with his mantle.[8]
Ab`dul Hameed Siddiqui states in The Life of Muhammad,
“The assassins remained on the watch until the day dawned when they rushed in and to their utter surprise, found that the person lying in the Prophet’s bed was `Ali rather than Muhammad. This created a stir in the whole town.”[9]
The courage that `Ali displayed by putting his own life in danger, stemmed from his deep love for the Prophet.
While organizing his soldiers for the battle of Badr the Prophet poked a companion by the name of Sawwad in the belly for stepping out of line. Although Sawwad did this on purpose, nonetheless he expressed his pain to which the Prophet lifted his own shirt and said, “Then do the same to me.”[10]
Sheikh Hasan Al-Banna mentions in The Sirah of the Final Prophet,
“Sawwad approached him and kissed him instead and said, “O messenger of Allah! You know what is before us and I may not survive the battle. If this is my last time with you, the last thing I want to do in this life is this.”[11]
This incident clearly illustrates the degree of love that the Companions harbored for their leader. Al-Banna mentions the love that the youth had for the Prophet and for the hereafter,
“Such was the inspiration and dynamism in the leadership of Prophet Muhammad that `Umayr, a boy of sixteen, flung away some dates he was eating and cried out, “These are holding me back from Paradise,” and plunged into the battle, later to die as a martyr.”[12]
If love is shown to the youth, then surely it will be reciprocated in the most amazing of ways.
The Prophet mobilized the youth under his banner through empowerment. Across all continents and cultures, youth empowerment is one of the most discussed and applied programs/processes in the world today.
Thriving societies have more opportunities for young people to contribute their skills and talents. It is a way in which youth can make positive changes in their lives and in the lives of others.
The need for agency and a sense of authority is a vital factor for young people. It is a mechanism whereby they explore the “real world” and see where they “belong.”
One’s youth is a phase in life, if directed properly, can be a means of immense positivity and good. If misdirected however, it can be a means of destruction and tragic consequences.
Unfortunately, we find a huge percentage of youth in the contemporary period engaged in harmful behavior and unhealthy habits—not conducive to making the world a better place.
The Prophet was fully cognizant of the potential of the youth. With his incredible foresight, he utilized and empowered the youth in his community. They were taught how to be real “men” and real “women” and indeed their greatness was visible through the extraordinary contributions they had left behind.
Zayd ibn Tahbit
Zayd ibn Thabit, was among the generation of youth who were empowered by the Prophet. He was hardly thirteen years old when he came to seek permission from the Prophet to attend the historic battle of Badr.[1] He was not granted permission to join the Muslim Army, as he was too young at the time.
However, this did not prevent Zayd from contributing to the cause of Islam. The Prophet saw that Zayd had a sharp intellect and an unwavering thirst for knowledge. Hence, he empowered him through scholarship. He instructed, “Zayd, learn the writing of the Jews for me.”[2]
Enthusiastically, Zayd went about learning Hebrew and shortly after, the Syriac language. This brilliant young man eventually found himself serving as an interpreter and scribe for the Prophet.
During the caliphate of Abu Bakr, he was appointed to lead the massive project of compiling the Qur’an in a book form.[3] He was an expert in the Qur’an and a scholar of the highest caliber.
Till this day, anyone who opens up a copy of the Qur’an is forever indebted to the great youth scholar, Zayd ibn Thabit, for his outstanding service to Islam.
This case presents to us some very valuable lessons. The Prophet’s methodology in identifying the skills of Zayd and then empowering him with that was one of the key reasons behind his success. It is imperative for us to pinpoint the talents within our communities and put them to work in order to bring about positive change.
Mus`ab ibn `Umair
The Prophet invested in the youth and placed his trust in them. He did not hesitate in assigning them pivotal roles despite their age. This provided the youth a feeling of “belonging.” The youth felt special because the Prophet entrusted them with serious responsibilities. Take Mus`ab ibn `Umayr for example. Mubarakpuri writes,
“After the pledge of (`Aqabah) the Prophet sent to Yathrib (Medina) Mus`ab ibn `Umair al-`Abdari, the first Muslim ambassador to teach the people the doctrines of Islam, give them practical guidance and make attempts at propagating Islam among those who still professed polytheism.”[4]
The Prophet selected Mus`ab to carry out the task of teaching Islam to the people of Yathrib, while many older and more experienced companions were present—the likes of Abu Bakr, `Umar, `Uthman, `Ali, and others. He knew Mus`ab was fully capable and thus empowered him through this honorable post. Yahiya Emerick notes in his biography of the Prophet,
“Mus`ab was an excellent choice. Before his conversion, he had been an idle child of wealth who indulged in great luxuries at his family’s expense.
He had since redirected his life toward prayer and simple living. While in Yathrib, he succeeded in converting many Arabs of both tribes to Islam, including several prominent clan leaders.”[5]
Mubarakpuri further comments,
“Mus`ab stayed in Medina carrying out his mission steadily and successfully until all the houses of al-Ansar had Muslim elements, men and women.”[6]
Usamah ibn Zaid
Entrusting youth with leadership roles can be daunting a task, but if done with precision and thought, there will be astonishing results.
Muslim Youth & Challenges in the West… How to Change Current Paradigm
After the Farewell Pilgrimage, a large army was organized and deployed to Syria. Abu Bakr and `Umar were involved in this campaign. But the Prophet appointed the young Usamah ibn Zayd to lead the army.
Al-Banna states very succinctly:
“Usamah was then a young man of hardly twenty years of age. His appointment was to honor the name of his father who had been killed while commanding at the battle of Mu’ta.
Such an appointment was also sure to stir within the blood of the youth the greatest determination and bravery. It was also meant as an example for the youth of Islam to carry the burden of great responsibility.”[7]
The “burden of great responsibility” was a spirit deeply cultivated in the hearts and minds of the youth. Entrusting Usamah with such a massive role did not only empower him as a young person, but it also set a precedent for the entire community at large.
Naturally, there were some people who felt uncomfortable with Usamah being their commander. The Prophet stood up on his pulpit and said,
“O Men! Carry out the expedition under Usamah. Your complaint against his generalship is of the same kind as your complaint against the generalship of his father before him. By Allah! Usamah is as fit for the generalship as was his father.”[8]
From this, we can deduce that in order to further a cause and establish a viable community, elders must delegate significant roles to the youth and place confidence in them. This will create a culture of respect in the younger generation for the older generation. Moreover, it will generate fresh new leaders who are capable of handling new challenges in an ever-changing world.
Over a span of twenty-three years, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) successfully completed his mission and raised a generation of youth that carried the light of Islam to all four corners of the world. By treating them with love, the Prophet was able to establish astounding relationships with the young people of his time. His vision and implementation of youth empowerment yielded victory upon victory and continued for generations to come. There are innumerable lessons for the contemporary world to take from the Sirah in regards to the youth.
In a time when our young generation has lost their sense of direction and moral compass in life, it is high time that we study the life of the Prophet Muhammad. It is anticipated that by doing this, we will be able to reorient ourselves to that which is healthy and productive for both, our youth, and our world.
