Every community in every society, without exception, is composed of different classes. There are leaders, followers, workers, intellectuals and so forth. It is this heterogeneity that lends power to society and it is also this same heterogeneity that can lead to destruction. If the different classes in society are united working for one goal, strength will grow and ultimately victory will prevail. However, if the different classes function as separate units working for different ends, the society will collapse and extinction will be the ultimate destiny.
In order to avoid destruction and ruin it is important to classify the different classes of society and understand each classes function. Unfortunately, this is an area in which many people fail. Some people recognize false classes forgetting real ones; some split classes into many factions while aggregating several classes into one. To obtain a correct classification of the different classes in society is obviously an enormous task and is not the intent of our discussion. The task at hand though, is to illuminate one of these classes and a class that is often forgotten in society�the youth.
Throughout the annals of time and the pages of history, youth have been a tremendous force. Their participation in society makes the concept of progress a reality and their efforts have the capacity to influence the masses. Indeed they have been the energy behind the renaissance and revolution of all societies and will also provide the same force, insha'Allah, in the revival of Islam. Even though we always associate youth with age we should strive to understand it more as a people containing the "spirit of youth", composed of creativity, activity and sacrifice, for there are young people with old spirits and old people with young spirits.
As youth ourselves it is important to recognize this powerful role that we directly and indirectly play in society. Without our efforts, the visions we have for Islam will never come to pass. We shoulder a heavy responsibility and must recognize that we are a necessary component in the Islamic movement. We can not be passive to this responsibility since that will only hamper our progress. Furthermore it is imperative that we learn and train ourselves to channel our surplus of energy for the sake of unity in our ummah.
By studying the youth of our history we can see that there are two characteristics that we must revive to allow ourselves to play this role of uniting our ummah and awaking it from its slumber. These two characteristics are understanding and implementation. We must seek to obtain a correct, pure and unadulterated understanding of Islam and use the qualities of youth we posses to implement it. If we can achieve this, then we have played a positive role and Allah (SWT) will provide us with shade on the Day when there is no Shade except His as is mentioned in the well-known Hadith.
Alhamdulilah Allah has created us as one nation "Verily this brotherhood of yours is a single brotherhood and I am your Lord and Cherisher: therefore Serve me" (21:92). This unity implies a unity in understanding Islam i.e. there is unity in how to approach Islam and understand it and it is this that helps unite us. The message of Islam is contained in the Holy Qur'an and the pure Prophetic Tradition (Sunnah) of our beloved Prophet (pbuh). We know where to find true Islam; we simply must make the effort to educate ourselves. Over the course of our history many scholars have discussed this very point and illuminated the correct understanding of Islam for us. We should seek to follow their efforts since Allah says "If you realize this not, ask those who possess the Message" (21:7). This will ultimately aid us in our quest and "If you differ in anything among yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger if ye do believe in Allah and the Last Day" (4:59)
Tariq bin Ziyad (the famous teenage general who conquered the Iberian Peninsula) addressed his troops standing on the rock of Gibraltar, which is named after him, saying, "O people, where is the escape? The sea is behind you and the enemy is in front of you!" We can understand this to mean that once we have made the effort to understand Islam, we have nothing else to do but act and implement our knowledge. There is no escape from the knowledge we gain except hypocrisy. Knowledge is empowerment and with it we can struggle and improve our predicament. This is the reason why Allah (swt) measures the difference between those who know and those who do not know by life and death.
Can he who was dead to whom we gave life and a light whereby he can walk amongst men be like him who is in the depths of darkness from which he can never come out? Thus to those without faith their own deeds seem pleasing" (6:122).
We, as the youth of this ummah, must understand that we are living in a crucial time in our history. We will inherit the efforts of our father and we must be ready for this great burden. We will one-day shoulder the responsibility of leading the reconstruction of this dynamic civilization. The actions we take today will definitely have a strong impact tomorrow, let us then prepare for this day and let us unite as the youth of this ummah into one body enjoying the good and forbidding the evil. We have the least to loose and have always proven to be the most courageous and brave among our people. Let us sacrifice for the sake of Allah (swt) and remember what Allah says:
"Allah has purchased of the believers their persons and their goods for theirs (in return) is the Garden, they fight in His cause and slay and are slain, a promise binding on Him in truth through the Law the Gospel and the Qur'an. And who is more faithful to his covenant then Allah? Then rejoice in the bargain which ye have concluded: that is the achievement supreme." [9:111]