Holy teachings a defence to social ills among youth
Award presentation: Her Majesty presenting the Anugerah Bakti Hijrah Khas Wanita to Datin Hjh Maznah Hj Muhammad at the Women's Convention in conjunction with Maulud Nabi at the ICC, Berakas. (Above) Her Majesty presenting the Anugerah Bakti Hijrah Khas Wanita to another recipient, Hjh Masura Hj Abidin. Pictures: Zamri Zainal
Sunday, March 30, 2008
BRUNEIAN youths need to be educated on the teachings of the Holy Quran as one of the solutions to the increasing phenomena of social ills rearing its head among the nation's future leaders.
This issue was discussed in a special nadwah or forum, entitled "Cabaran keluarga dalam Membentuk Tunas Bangsa Berakhlak Al-Quran" or "Family Challenges in Shaping the Nation's Youth with the morals of al-Quran", during the special convention for women.
Two panels were invited to discuss the theme, Ustazah Siti Nor Bahyah Mahamood from Malaysia and Datin Hjh Adina Othman, the Director of Community Development, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, chaired by Ustazah Hjh Saemah Abu Salam, senior religious officer from the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
Datin Adina started off the discussion by sharing statistics that indicated the sultanate is facing many social diseases.
She said that there were four main reasons that led youths to be easily engaged in inappropriate activities, including a lack of spriritual strength, unstable family institutions, challenges from their environment and economic problems.
The main social ills that youths tend to be involved in were free sex, drug abuse and domestic violence.
She said that the highest number of babies born was in 2003, in which a total of 626 babies were borne by youths under the age of 19 years.
Out of these alarming number, 302 were born outside of wedlock. By 2006, this number decreased to 138 births.
She stressed out that despite the statistics showing a decrease, the number is still considered high and things need to be done to prevent it from increasing again.
Meanwhile, divorce rate for young couples (below the age of 30) had shown an increase of 40 per cent from 2002 until last year.
"The issue is the multiplier effect that will be experienced by these children" she said, adding that most children (74 per cent) who are currently under the care of welfare homes came from broken families.
These young couples were said to be not ready to be parents. This in turn led to another problematic issue, such as domestic violence.
It is a sad scenario, she said, as most of these acts were performed by men, such as abuse and incest, which was mostly committed by the biological father of the child.
"Home is supposed to be a safe place for these children, but in some cases, it turns out the other way," she said, adding that these poor children has a higher possibility of being more sexually active as their self-dignity has deteriorated.
Ustazah Siti Nor Bahyah responded to these problems by saying that there are three key individuals who need to play the role in ensuring that the youth of the nation practise the morals of the Quran.
The first was the father who must play the role of educator. A father not only need to provide the basic survival necessities, but also act as a role model to family members.
"There is no use to ask the child to perform prayers and recite the Quran if the father is not doing them and showing them the importance of doing these obligations," the invited speaker said.
The second is a wife who respects and obey the husband. A child will be happy to see that the parents love each other and are living in harmony, she explained.
The third also focuses on women, who need to be a good mother and put the children's education and welfare as a priority.
A family needs to apply the five strengths of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in the institution. The first was the name. A child needs to be given a name that brings a good meaning, hoping that the child will grow based on the meaning described in the name.
Secondly, the Prophet was great as he had 'nur' or light. She said that Nur came from a pure heart which always recites the zikir upon Allah (SWT) and also the salawat.
Moreover, a family needs to perform the obligations or ibadat. Children must be educated on their obligations at a young age, whereas parents should encourage them and be a role model in this aspect.
Datin Adina further said that the family institution needs to be firm and strong, in giving children the security of being at home.
A strong foundation (family) would therefore equip these youths with a strong faith, that would help them to face the challenges that globalisation brings, she added.
The Brunei Times
This issue was discussed in a special nadwah or forum, entitled "Cabaran keluarga dalam Membentuk Tunas Bangsa Berakhlak Al-Quran" or "Family Challenges in Shaping the Nation's Youth with the morals of al-Quran", during the special convention for women.
Two panels were invited to discuss the theme, Ustazah Siti Nor Bahyah Mahamood from Malaysia and Datin Hjh Adina Othman, the Director of Community Development, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, chaired by Ustazah Hjh Saemah Abu Salam, senior religious officer from the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
Datin Adina started off the discussion by sharing statistics that indicated the sultanate is facing many social diseases.
She said that there were four main reasons that led youths to be easily engaged in inappropriate activities, including a lack of spriritual strength, unstable family institutions, challenges from their environment and economic problems.
The main social ills that youths tend to be involved in were free sex, drug abuse and domestic violence.
She said that the highest number of babies born was in 2003, in which a total of 626 babies were borne by youths under the age of 19 years.
Out of these alarming number, 302 were born outside of wedlock. By 2006, this number decreased to 138 births.
She stressed out that despite the statistics showing a decrease, the number is still considered high and things need to be done to prevent it from increasing again.
Meanwhile, divorce rate for young couples (below the age of 30) had shown an increase of 40 per cent from 2002 until last year.
"The issue is the multiplier effect that will be experienced by these children" she said, adding that most children (74 per cent) who are currently under the care of welfare homes came from broken families.
These young couples were said to be not ready to be parents. This in turn led to another problematic issue, such as domestic violence.
It is a sad scenario, she said, as most of these acts were performed by men, such as abuse and incest, which was mostly committed by the biological father of the child.
"Home is supposed to be a safe place for these children, but in some cases, it turns out the other way," she said, adding that these poor children has a higher possibility of being more sexually active as their self-dignity has deteriorated.
Ustazah Siti Nor Bahyah responded to these problems by saying that there are three key individuals who need to play the role in ensuring that the youth of the nation practise the morals of the Quran.
The first was the father who must play the role of educator. A father not only need to provide the basic survival necessities, but also act as a role model to family members.
"There is no use to ask the child to perform prayers and recite the Quran if the father is not doing them and showing them the importance of doing these obligations," the invited speaker said.
The second is a wife who respects and obey the husband. A child will be happy to see that the parents love each other and are living in harmony, she explained.
The third also focuses on women, who need to be a good mother and put the children's education and welfare as a priority.
A family needs to apply the five strengths of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in the institution. The first was the name. A child needs to be given a name that brings a good meaning, hoping that the child will grow based on the meaning described in the name.
Secondly, the Prophet was great as he had 'nur' or light. She said that Nur came from a pure heart which always recites the zikir upon Allah (SWT) and also the salawat.
Moreover, a family needs to perform the obligations or ibadat. Children must be educated on their obligations at a young age, whereas parents should encourage them and be a role model in this aspect.
Datin Adina further said that the family institution needs to be firm and strong, in giving children the security of being at home.
A strong foundation (family) would therefore equip these youths with a strong faith, that would help them to face the challenges that globalisation brings, she added.
The Brunei Times
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