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. Title Page Copyright Page Contents Contributors and Editors Acknowledgements Foreword Chapter 1 Introduction Reference Part One Muslim Youth: Negotiating Local and Global Contexts chapter 2 The phenomenon of serial nihilism among British Muslim youth of Bradford, England Introduction Geographical area of research Study sample and methodology The South Asian Muslim community in Great Britain Postcolonialism and perceptions of Asians in Great Britain Perceptions of British Muslim youth in Bradford Prospects for improvement: The correlation between engagement and belonging Conclusion References chapter 3 An analysis of the factors that pave the way for the radicalization of British The rise of HT in Britain Socio-Economic, political and theological deprivation of the British youth in Britain HT in Uzbekistan, Egypt and Turkey Conclusion References Part two Identity and Belonging chapter 4 Muslim migrant youth: descriptive factors related to acculturation Introduction Acculturation of migrant Muslim American youth Methodology Demographic characteristics of Muslim youth Conclusions References chapter 5 Religion, language or ethnicity? Hybridized identity among the Isma’ili youth Introduction Contextual background Research method The development of hybridized identity The impact of ethnicity The impact of language The impact of religion Conclusion References chapter 6 Turning to my religion Introduction British Muslim - practising Muslim No choice but to turn References Part three Education and New Media chapter 7 ‘Growing up under lockdown’ or ‘educational pioneers’? Introduction Methodology Routes into University Pioneers paving the way - role models Conclusion References chapter 8 Muslim youth at university: a critical examination of the British higher education Introduction Discrimination in the British higher education system Lack of recognition of religious identity Interaction with fellow students Relations with academic staff Equal opportunities Availability of service provision for Muslim students on campus Conclusion References chapter 9 Muslim youth and citizenship education: idealism, Islam and prospects for succe Introduction Muslim Education Systems, Citizenship Education and Religious Schooling Background and objectives of the present research Citizenship Education and Best Practice Conclusion References Part four Methodologies of Engaging chapter 10 Activity and alterity: youth work with Muslim ‘girls’ Introduction Methodology Alterity and youth work with young Muslim women Analyzing youth work with young Muslim women Sameness and alterity Difference and alterity Conclusion References chapter 11 Youth work and Islam: a growing tradition Introduction Muslims and youth work ‘ilm and youth work Islam, science and youth work ‘Ummah’ - The influence of Islam Muslimun Models of good practice Social kindness Models of deficit The ‘right word’ The offering of self Faith-based work The YMCA, integration and jihad Conclusion References chapter 12 Training Muslim youth to be ‘Khateebs’1 Introduction Challenges facing Muslim youth - A Muslim practitioner’s perspective The values of the Muslim Youth Foundation Developing Muslim youth - the MYF Khateeb project New Khateeb Training Workshop February 2009 The role of the Khateeb in working with Muslim youth Role of the Khateeb Role of Muslim organizations in addressing the challenges facing Muslim youth Conclusion References chapter 13 Engaging with young Muslims: some paradigms from the Qur’an and Sunnah Introduction Muslim youth in Britain and the West The Qur’an and Sunnah: The ‘Time-Space’ context Muslim youth issues and concerns Alcohol and drugs Sex and relationships Conclusion References Websites, Addresses and Contacts of Prominent Agencies National (UK) International North America South America Europe South Africa Australia South Asia Far East Notes Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 7 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Bibliography INDEX