Ramadan and the 3 Groups of Youth

By Norhassan Curo – A guest post from the Philippines
“We relate to thee their story in truth: they were youths who believed in their Lord, and We advanced them in guidance” (Surah Al-Kahf 18:13). With the present visit of our exalted guest—the month of Ramadan, many gifts of rare opportunities are given to thousands of young Muslims in the world. They, being in their prime energies and potentials, are given the best opportunities like no other to grab the bountiful gifts of this month. Some young Muslims welcome this guest with arms wide open and see Ramadan’s visit as one with so much a blessing that it becomes a life changing event. Others take it as a sign that Allah Ta’ala has given them another opportunity to draw closer to Him and earn His pleasure through worship in this month. Some others, unfortunately, are too lazy and just see it like any ordinary guest who comes and leaves without any meaning and importance.The Muslim youth visited by the noble guest respond in three groups.
First Group: They think they are young, will live long and reach another Ramadan. Thus, they do not grab the golden gifts of opportunities the present Ramadan offers .The first group of youth are the ones who come out after Ramadan unchanged and unmoved. They come out in the same being and state inside and out as they entered in this month. With their mentality that they are still young and more time to live, they procrastinate everything they need to do in their young age and live as if there is no end. Thus, despite their deepest and darkest sins, they procrastinate their asking for forgiveness. They are considered the most unlucky youth as described in the Hadith, “people who reached Ramadan but had not their sins forgiven. These youth do not know that they might not see this visitor again. He might not come next year or they might not be there when he comes back.
Second Group: They know it is Ramadan so they fast without however giving any importance to their fast and their youth. So they only fast and get nothing from their fasting.“Let it not be that the day that you fast and the day that you break fast be equal.” This is the attitude of the second group of youth. Their real behaviors, attitudes and outlooks are the same during the day they fast and the night they break their fast or, their undesirable attitudes come back the time they break their fast. Fasting has no effect upon them since they do not reflect upon the lessons of fasting that they observe. Some fast but do not offer salah. Others perform the taraweeh and tahajjud, optional prayers while leaving off the obligatory salahs. How they should be reminded that salah is their miftahu Jannah (key to Paradise)—a key to receive their rewards! The said group of youth must be the people who are described in the hadith as those “who fast but do not get from their fasting but hunger and thirst and get nothing from their standing up at night to pray but loss of sleep.” Also, another hadith reminds them, “whoever does not give up lying and evil actions, then Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink” (Sahih Bukhari).
Third Group: They know both that they are young and like Ramadan, their youth will soon leave after its very short and limited visit. The third group of youth take Ramadan’s visit as a sign that Allahu ta’ala has given them another opportunity to draw closer to Him and earn His paradise through worship in this month. They are the ones who understand fully well that the present month of Ramadan is the best month to make use of their youth. Thus, they welcome the present Ramadan they witness with all the efforts and strength their youth can offer as if this was the first, and will be the last Ramadan they will ever entertain.
They are described in the hadith as “those who fast with full sincerity and will have all their sins forgiven.” For this, these youth will receive the rewards of their fast not only with manifold increase but rewards only Allah may know. Youths of this group make this month a turning point in their lives. As such, they use their youthful energies to stand up for the night to ask forgiveness for all the disobedience and sins they have committed, thereby earning the pleasure of Allah. They use their youthful clear vision and clear minds to recite the noble Quran and try their best to understand its meanings. They are the youth who use this month to bond the spirit of brotherhood and unity of all Muslims in the world as they fasted with full sincerity along them. They sympathize with their Muslim brothers and sisters, rich and poor, young and old who suffer the pangs of hunger.
Finally, they will be the youths for whom their fasts will intercede on the Day of Judgment and say “My Rabb, I deprived him from eating and curtailed his desires, so permit me to intercede for him.” And the Qur’an will say: “I deprived him from his sleep, so permit me to intercede for him.” To this, both will be given the permission to interede. Yes, they are the welcoming visitors who exactly know the essence and excellence both of their youth and their guest—month of Ramadan.I pray that may Allah shower His mercy and forgiveness upon the Muslim Ummah and include us among the third group of youth who strive hard to earn His pleasure and forgiveness in this month of Ramadan. I pray that may He not include us among those who say that which they do not do. May we be among the youths who believed in their Lord, and were given guidance.