Youth is a period of high energy and great enthusiasm, coupled with an air of invincibility and perpetuity. Like the driver of a fast car, one may also develop a disdain for the power cars on the highway of life.It is difficult to imagine that the car will run out of fuel and that one day the engine will wear out.
For the moment though the car is fast and it can go places!
For this reason there are special warnings for the youth and glad tidings for the person who uses his energy wisely. A famous hadith tells us that on the day of judgement no man will be able to move from his place until he answers Five questions. "how did he spend his life? How did he utilize his youth? How did he earn his wealth? How did he spend it? And, how did he practice what he learnt?"(Sunsn al-tirmidhi) while the first question ask generally about one's life pattern, the second question especially focuses on the period of youth.
On the other hand ,the person who devoted his youth to the worship of Allah will be among the selected seven kinds of people: "there are seven people for whom Allah will provide his shade on the day when there will be no shade except his shade:1. A just ruler. 2. A youth who grew up in the worship of allah . 3. A man whose heart is attached to the mosque. 4. Two men who love each other for the sake of Allah: they meet for the sake of Allah and part company for his sake. 5. A man who is invited by a woman of beauty and position ,but he refuses saying: 'I fear Allah.' 6.A man who gives in charity secretly such that his left hand does not know what his right hand gives. 7.A man whose eyes shed tears as he remembers Allah in private."(BUKHARI,MUSLIM).

Hence the profound advice in another famous hadith to value five things:
"Youth before old age, health before sickness, wealth before poverty, free time before preoccupation, add life before death."(Narrated by Ibn Abbas and reported by Al Hakim).
It definitely goes without saying that the Muslim youth of today will be the leaders of the Ummah tomorrow. This is a role for which they have to be formally groomed by their families, educational institutes, and the society at large. Today, the sad reality is that the youth are “lost” they lack direction and they are in dire need of role models to emulate and leaders to follow. So, what can be done to improve the situation and channel the youth towards a positive future? Respect the youth and nourish their confidence, self esteem and trust. Educate them about the culturally-rich history of Muslim leaders who were pioneers of the Islamic society. Tell them
their success stories in the different fields of life. Broaden their vision and keep the global perspective of humanity in mind, while being loyal to their regional identities. We want to produce world leaders. The youth need good contemporary role models to emulate. Be one of them: a sound practicing Muslim and follower of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Be a leader at home and in the community. Be a visionary and give them a vision. Be their friend and show them ways of achieving their
goals. Provide positive feedback to motivate them instead of continuous criticism. Help them focus by removing time wasters that sap their energy. Our youth should be taught to find their special talents and to develop them. They should have more opportunities to channelize their energies. Authentic work experience and involvement in schools, colleges and family and community services will channelize their energies. Positive involvement will help them unleash their potential
and help them gain confidence to work towards their vision, and become true ambassadors of Islam.
It is clear from the Quran and the Sunnah that the ultimate success is that of the hereafter, and in this world, one’s aspirations should lie in seeking the pleasure of Allah (SWT). As such, try to instill real faith in our youth, and love for Allah and His Messenger (SAW). This can be facilitated through having them keep the company of pious people. Help them get involved in local Muslim youth groups. They’ll be able to relate more to others of the same age and interests as them, and who respect the boundaries of Islam as they do. Attend religious talks and lectures with them. Find out who their favorite Muslim speakers are and make it a point to attend their talks, or ask them to share video lectures they found interesting and discuss the topic with them.
Share thoughts on how one can aim to please Allah through one’s studies and work. Keep in view the life of the Prophet (SAW). According to the Quran, his role model is
the best. Gift your child with a copy of a book of hadith or stories from the lives of the Prophet and his Companions. Convey the message that the Muslim heroes of yesterday are as relevant for us today as they were then: The Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, Ali and others of the golden Islamic age are not just paragraphs in books on Islamic history; rather they have been real people who led balanced lives in this world. Keep the communication lines open—instead of micromanaging the youth, have a trust relationship where they can come to you to discuss any problem. One way to make them feel more comfortable in sharing their thoughts with you is to share time and interests; whether it is through participating in activities together, such as playing sports or even a family board game, or traveling to new places together.
Educate them not only in the traditional intellectual subjects, but also in emotional, mental, and social areas. Having a PhD or working for Google is well and good, but true (To be Continued)

Writer is a Class 12th (medical stream) Aligarh Muslim University
Email:------faheemulislam9@gmail.com