My Take On: How Your Faith Relates To Your Identity as a Teenager?

By:Khadija Nadeem Gr 9
Setting boundaries and keeping within limits is always a struggle, especially when we’re young. That’s because as teenagers we’re surrounded by so many different people with different beliefs, opinions and customs. We’re already so easily influenced in terms of our personalities, and silently our faith is also under attack. “In a society with so many different cultures, religions, values and morals, how do I make sure I’m doing what I’m supposed to and staying true to me?” It’s a common question asked among youth. As an immigrant I relate to it even more because I balance my homeland culture, Canadian culture and my religion which is completely different from the former two. But there’s three sure ways I use to keep my faith strong.
I always make sure to participate in any debates or discussions regarding my religion because learning from others’ experiences is extremely beneficial. I’ve never been left out of the conversation and I think that’s an essential part of my confidence in my faith. But contesting what we’re taught by tradition is also so important. Just because something your grandparents told your parents is now being communicated to you does not mean that it is islamically accurate. Your family is definitely a source for information and assurance but always be fact-checking because it could benefit more than just you. If you’re not sure if something is right, research it.
We’re lucky because we also have access to so many sources provided from around the world and within our religion. First and foremost comes the Holy Qur’an itself, sunnahs which are the doings of the Prophet (PBUH) and hadiths which are records of the words, actions and approvals of the Prophet (PBUH). And then to understand all of this are our Imams and Scholars who help us recognize and understand the deeper meanings of our sources. I find it enlightening to find tafseer (translation and explanations) of surahs online. Having a deeper understanding of our religion and the reasons behind why we do things the way we do helps us appreciate our religion in a different light. Of course, it’s important once again to question and make sure wherever we get our information is reliable.
And finally, read and try to understand the Quran. Everything in the Quran is irrefutable and just reading the Quran is such a meaningful experience that really helped me personally deepen my faith. Knowing so much about my religion makes me more comfortable with my faith and carrying that knowledge with me enables me to educate others as well. The Quran covers everything and is such a beautiful part of our religion. Having crisis in faith is not something to be ashamed of, in fact the more you try to discover your faith’s role in your identity, the more your eyes will be opened to the beauty and wisdom of Islam.