Jul 01 2007
Video: Hamza Yusuf on Muslim Youth
The following is a lecture that Sheikh Hamza Yusuf gave at the 2000 ISNA conference on the influences of non-Muslim (”Western”) culture on Muslim children and youth and ways in which parents and youth themselves can encourage good Islamic character.
Sheikh Hamza touches on consumerism, advertising’s influence on children, television-viewing and guarding eyes and ears from the haram.
Here is what I took away from the talk:
- Don’t allow children to watch television. Sheikh Hamza feels very strongly that it is a negative both in terms of form and content. He also criticizes movies and actors - though I know from reading materials on Sheikh Hamza’s Zaytuna website that he is okay with allowing older children to watch carefully chosen (informative) videos.
- Educate children about advertising and consumerism so that insha’Allah they can be better armed against them.
- Encourage children to use their (limited) time to study Islam and also to develop other useful skills and talents.
- Encourage children to be active in community and family life rather than waste their time with video games, TV and movies.
