Muslim Youth: Challenges, Opportunities and Expectations

Description

Many Muslim societies, regardless of location, are displaying a 'youth bulge', where more than half their populations are under the age of 25. An increasingly globalized western culture is rapidly eroding 'traditional' ideas about society, from the family to the state. At the same time, there is a view that rampant materialism is creating a culture of spiritual emptiness in which demoralization and pessimism easily find root. For young Muslims these challenges may be compounded by a growing sense of alienation as they face competing ideologies and divergent lifestyles. Muslim youth are often idealized as the 'future of Islam' or stigmatized as rebelling against their parental values and suffering 'identity crises'. These experiences can produce both positive and negative reactions, from intellectual engagement and increasing spiritual maturity to emotional rejectionism, narrow identity politics and violent extremism. This book addresses many of the central issues currently facing young Muslims in both localized and globalized contexts through engaging with the work of academics, youth work practitioners and those working in non-governmental organizations and civic institutions.

Mohammad Siddique Seddon is Assistant Director of the Centre for Faith and Public Policy and Lecturer in Islamic and Religious Studies at the Department of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Chester, UK. Fauzia Ahmad is Research Fellow at the Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations at the Aga Khan University (UK) and an Honorary Research Fellow at the Centre for the Study of Ethnicity and Citizenship at Bristol University, UK.

Some of the many problems facing young Muslims today in the West, especially in Britain are discussed by this promising collection of researchers and practitioners. Whether it be the development of the social sciences, political engagement or simply understanding each other, none of us can afford to ignore the issues raised in this timely book. -- Professor Tariq Modood, Centre for the Study of Ethnicity and Citizenship, University of Bristol, UK This wide-ranging, informative and compelling volume is essential reading for all those engaged with the issues facing Muslim youth today. -- Professor Louise Archer, Centre for Public Policy Research, Department of Education and Professional Studies, King's College London, UK Too often young Muslims in the West are treated as a problem - alienated from the society they live in, dissatisfied with the values of their parents and tempted by the politics of violent extremism. This volume is to be commended because it goes behind such stereotypes and oversimplifications, takes the voices of young Muslims seriously, respects their diversity and provides a more nuanced and optimistic vision for the future of Muslim youth than we are often given. -- Professor J. Mark Halstead, University of Huddersfield, UK. A great variety of voices are heard in this collection . . . the book is very well structured. The conclusions of all the chapters are clear and the references seem to be well up-to-date and motivate further reading. The references to web pages, addresses, and contacts are very useful. So are the notes, as they are just adequate in number to clarify words and concepts, especially for non-Muslim readers. The book is highly recommended to readers in Britain and abroad and to researchers as well as educators and social workers, whether of a Muslim or non-Muslim background. -- Sissel Ostberg, Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences, Norway * Journal of Contemporary Religion *