The Moral Decline of Youth: Its Causes and Islamic Solutions

When we gather in the houses of Allah—the Mosques—His infinite mercy descends upon us. Indeed, the mosque is a place of immense honor in the sight of Allah. He has commanded that His name be remembered and glorified there morning and evening. In the Holy Quran, Allah says:

فِي بُيُوتٍ أَذِنَ اللَّهُ أَن تُرْفَعَ وَيُذْكَرَ فِيهَا اسْمُهُ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُ فِيهَا بِالْغُدُوِّ وَالْآصَالِ

“(This light is) in houses (mosques), which Allah has ordered to be raised and that His name be mentioned therein; exalting Him within them in the mornings and the evenings.”

(Surah An-Nur: 36)

The virtue of gathering in a mosque for the sake of learning is immense. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said,

“When a group of people assemble in one of the Houses of Allah, reciting the Book of Allah and studying it together, tranquility descends upon them, mercy covers them, the angels surround them, and Allah mentions them to those (angels) who are with Him.”

(Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 2699)

The focal point of our discussion today is the lifeblood of our society: the youth. They are the pillars of the community and the architects of the future. Just as the heart drives the body, the youth drive a nation. Their moral and ideological health determines a nation’s progress and prosperity. However, it is a grave concern that a large segment of our youth today faces a significant moral decline, falling into deviation and degradation. In this article, we will discuss the nature of this decline, its causes, and the path to its remedy in the light of the Quran and Sunnah.

Understanding the Sirat al-Mustaqim: The Sole Path to True Success

Allah Almighty has described His revealed religion, Islam, as the ‘Sirat al-Mustaqim’ or the Straight Path. Every Muslim, in every rak’ah of their Salah (prayer), supplicates:

اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ

“Guide us to the straight path.”

(Surah Al-Fatiha: 6)

Remaining firm and steadfast on this path is the ultimate success for humanity. Allah has promised:

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا رَبُّنَا اللَّهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَامُوا تَتَنَزَّلُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ أَلَّا تَخَافُوا وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا وَأَبْشِرُوا بِالْجَنَّةِ الَّتِي كُنتُمْ تُوعَدُونَ

“Indeed, those who have said, ‘Our Lord is Allah,’ and then remained on a right course—the angels will descend upon them, [saying], ‘Do not fear and do not grieve but receive good tidings of Paradise, which you were promised.’”

(Surah Fussilat: 30)

However, Shaytan (Shaytan) is the sworn enemy of humankind. He lies in wait on this Straight Path, dedicated to misleading people. The path of Allah is one, but the paths of Shaytan are many. While they may appear glamorous, their end is destruction. Therefore, the slightest deviation from this Straight Path is the beginning of the decline.

The Elevated Status of Youth: Islam’s Focus on Preventing Moral Decline

Islam recognizes youth as the most valuable period of human life. The energy and enthusiasm for worship, acquiring knowledge, and doing good deeds during this time are unmatched at any other age. For this reason, worship in one’s youth is exceptionally dear to Allah. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said that among the seven categories of people who will be shaded by Allah’s Throne on the Day of Judgment is:

“…a youth who grew up in the worship of Allah.”

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith: 660; Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 1031)

In another hadith, the Prophet (ﷺ) said,

“Indeed, Allah is amazed (pleased) with a youth who has no childlike caprice.”

(Musnad Ahmad, Hadith: 17371; Sahih).

This means that the youth who controls their impulses and channels their energy into obeying Allah is profoundly loved by Him. But those who waste this precious time in negligence are the greatest losers.

The Core Causes of Moral Decline and Their Islamic Remedies

The deviation of our youth is driven by multiple factors. Below are the primary causes and their solutions as prescribed by the Quran and Sunnah.

1. Abandoning the Core: The Dangers of Forsaking the Quran and Sunnah

The greatest and most severe cause of degradation is moving away from the Book of Allah (the Quran) and the Sunnah of His Messenger (ﷺ). This separation is a primary driver of moral decline.

• Abandoning the Quran: The great scholar Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) mentioned several ways people abandon the Quran. These include failing to recite it, not pondering its meanings, not acting upon its lawful and unlawful commands, and not seeking it as a cure for spiritual diseases. Consequently, when the youth abandon the Quran for music, human-made philosophies, or worldly entertainment, tranquility vanishes from their lives. The Messenger (ﷺ) himself will complain to Allah on the Day of Judgment:
  وَقَالَ الرَّسُولُ يَا رَبِّ إِنَّ قَوْمِي اتَّخَذُوا هَٰذَا الْقُرْآنَ مَهْجُورًا
  “And the Messenger will say, ‘O my Lord, indeed my people took this Qur’an as [a thing] abandoned.’”
  (Surah Al-Furqan: 30)
• Turning Away from the Sunnah: The Sunnah, or the way of life of the Prophet (ﷺ), is the practical application of the Quran. Therefore, to disregard the Sunnah is to deny the very foundation of Islam. Allah Almighty warns severely:
  فَلْيَحْذَرِ الَّذِينَ يُخَالِفُونَ عَنْ أَمْرِهِ أَن تُصِيبَهُمْ فِتْنَةٌ أَوْ يُصِيبَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
  “So let those beware who dissent from the Prophet’s order, lest fitnah (trial, affliction) strike them or a painful punishment strike them.”
  (Surah An-Nur: 63)

Remedy: To be saved from this spiritual death, the youth must return to the Quran and Sunnah. After all, the Prophet (ﷺ) said,

“I have left among you two matters by holding fast to which you will never go astray: the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Prophet.”

(Muwatta Malik, Hadith: 3338).

Families must prioritize Quranic education from childhood. They must also instill a firm resolve to follow the Sunnah in every aspect of life.

2. Distorting the Message: Deviating from the Understanding of the Salaf-us-Saliheen

One of the primary causes of deviation is interpreting the Quran and Sunnah based on one’s own desires. People often do this in the name of “modernity,” rather than according to the understanding of the first and best generations of Muslims: the Sahabah (Companions), the Tabi’in (Successors), and the Tabi’ al-Tabi’in (their Successors), collectively known as the Salaf-us-Saliheen (Pious Predecessors).

Errant groups, like the Kharijites, emerged precisely because they ignored the understanding of the Companions. This leads to division, discord, and weakness in the Ummah (community). The Prophet (ﷺ) foretold this:

“Indeed, those who live after me will see much disagreement. So you must adhere to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the Rightly-Guided Caliphs. Hold onto it with your molar teeth.”

(Sunan Abu Dawud, Hadith: 4607; Jami` at-Tirmidhi, Hadith: 2676)

Remedy: The methodology and understanding of the Salaf must be taught and emphasized in mosques, schools, and all Islamic lectures. As Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Baz (may Allah have mercy on him) said, “The latter part of this Ummah will not be rectified except by that which rectified its first part.”

3. The Digital Age Dilemma: Media and Internet as Tools of Moral Decline

In the modern world, mass media and the internet have created a vast arena for the moral decline of youth. These platforms present unique youth problems that previous generations did not face.

• Inciting Desires: Much of modern media promotes shamelessness, vulgarity, and illicit relationships as normal. This, in turn, encourages the youth toward criminal and immoral behavior.
• Spreading Doubts: Some media outlets work to plant seeds of doubt about the fundamental beliefs of Islam. They also incite division among Muslims and spread hatred against scholars and righteous leaders. Moreover, they promote polytheistic practices like astrology and fortune-telling, cutting at the very root of faith.
• Unreliable Knowledge: The internet is a vast ocean of information; however, it is a mix of truth and falsehood. Many young people are misguided by the writings and rulings of anonymous or unknown individuals. This leads them to turn away from trusted, authentic scholars, which is a severe affliction.

Remedy: We must be acutely aware of the dangers of the media. For this reason, God-fearing Muslim content creators and media professionals have a duty to spread constructive, unifying messages. Every speaker and writer must remember their accountability to Allah. Furthermore, we must train the youth to verify information they find online and to always refer religious matters to trustworthy scholars.

4. Social and Psychological Pressures: Key Drivers of Youth Problems

• Bad Companionship: A person is most influenced by their friends. For instance, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:“A person is on the religion of his close friend, so let one of you look at whom he befriends.” (Sunan Abu Dawud, Hadith: 4833; Jami` at-Tirmidhi, Hadith: 2378) As a result, negative peer pressure ruins many promising young lives, leading them into drugs, obscenity, and crime.
• Blindly Following the Majority: Many assume that if most people are doing something, it must be right. However, Allah warns:
  وَإِن تُطِعْ أَكْثَرَ مَن فِي الْأَرْضِ يُضِلُّوكَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ
  “And if you obey most of those upon the earth, they will mislead you from the way of Allah.”
  (Surah Al-An’am: 116)
  Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “The Jama’ah (the main body) is that which aligns with the truth, even if you are alone.”
• Uncontrolled Emotions: Emotion is a natural part of being human. But when it overpowers reason and the Shariah (Islamic Law), it becomes destructive. Driven by raw emotion, many youths fall into forbidden relationships or are drawn to extremist ideologies.
• Deceptive Terminology: People weaponize words to steer youth away from Islam. They label those who try to practice their religion as “fundamentalists,” “extremists,” or “reactionaries.” Conversely, they use terms like “moderate” or “liberal” to justify abandoning core Islamic principles. Deceived by this language, many youths deviate from the straight path.
• Haste and Impatience: The Prophet (ﷺ) said,
  “Deliberation is from Allah, and haste is from Shaytan (Satan).”
  (Jami` at-Tirmidhi, Hadith: 2012).
  Making rash decisions without thinking of the consequences often leads to regret.
• Engaging in Fitnah (Trials): The glamour of chaos and turmoil attracts many youths. Because of this, the Prophet (ﷺ) advised that during times of fitnah,
  “the one who is sitting is better than the one who is standing…” This means the further one stays from turmoil, the safer their faith is. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith: 3371; Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 2886)

Remedy: We must teach youth to choose righteous, God-fearing friends and to value truth over popularity. They also need to learn to control their emotions with intellect, to critically analyze the terms and labels they hear, and to practice patience in all their affairs.

5. The Vicious Cycle of Sin and Shaytan’s Insidious Whispers

A significant cause of decline is entanglement in sin. The primary instigator behind this is the archenemy of humankind, Shaytan. Driven by arrogance and jealousy towards Adam (peace be upon him), he was cast out of Allah’s mercy. Consequently, he vowed to mislead humanity until the Last Day.

Shaytan uses various strategies to lure people into sin. For example, he whispers evil suggestions (waswasa), makes sins appear attractive, and makes righteous deeds feel difficult. He also exploits human weaknesses like anger, greed, and desire. One sin inevitably leads to another, trapping the person in a deep vortex. This lifestyle of moral decline brings nothing but anxiety, distress, and a constricted life. Allah says:

وَمَنْ أَعْرَضَ عَن ذِكْرِي فَإِنَّ لَهُ مَعِTيTشَةً ضَنكًا وَنَحْشُرُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَعْمَىٰ

“And whoever turns away from My remembrance—indeed, he will have a depressed life, and We will gather him on the Day of Resurrection, blind.”

(Surah Taha: 124)

To escape this mental anguish, some delve even deeper into sin. Tragically, some even choose the path of suicide—a heinous crime in itself.

Remedy: The only cure for this disease is to immediately turn back to Allah in sincere Tawbah (repentance). Indeed, anyone who wishes to be free from this moral decline must repent truthfully and earnestly to his Lord.

The Path to Reformation and a Call to Action

My dear brothers! The moral decline of the youth is an ominous sign for any nation. Therefore, protecting them from this decay is our collective religious and social responsibility. This requires a united effort. The family must be the first and foremost center of learning. Educational institutions must become centers for practicing morality. Finally, society must foster a healthy and pure environment.

It is incumbent upon all of us to realize the danger of this decline and strive to remedy its causes. We must work to bring back those who have lost their way, and we must never despair of their return, for the hearts of humankind are in the Hands of Allah.

O Allah! Guide the misguided Muslims. Make us and our youth steadfast on the Sirat al-Mustaqim. O Allah! Make easy for this Ummah the path of righteousness and piety. O Allah! Allow us to live upon the Sunnah, die upon the Sunnah, and be resurrected upon the Sunnah. Ameen, O Lord of the Worlds.