In recent years, the distancing of young people from religion has moved to the center of both social debates and family concerns.
Youth is one of the most sensitive phases in which a person’s faith and character are shaped; therefore, strengthening the spiritual bond is not limited to teaching rituals alone. The intense digital content young people encounter, the overly libertarian narratives of popular culture, and the rapid shifts in consumption habits lead to a weakening of spiritual focus. In this process, some young people form a distant perception of religion not because of the values Islam offers, but because they take the flawed practices they observe around them as a measure. Islam sets forth core principles for supporting youth during this stage, such as a gentle manner, a wise approach, and education based on authentic sources. Thus, the distancing of youth from Islam is often not rooted in disbelief, but in the lack of proper spiritual guidance.
Manevi iletişimin zayıflaması
İslamî bakış açısıyla gençlerin hayatta karşılaştığı yoğun uyaranlar, manevi bağın korunmasını zorlaştırmaktadır. Akademik baskı, sosyal çevre, şehir hayatının hızlı temposu ve sürekli değişen gündem, gençlerin zihinsel yorgunluğunu artırarak ibadet düzenini ve dini düşünceyi geri plana itebilmektedir. Bunun yanında, bazı ailelerin dini yalnızca yasaklar üzerinden anlatması veya gençlerin sorularına sert tepkiler vermesi, manevi iletişimi zayıflatmaktadır. Oysa Kur’an, gençlere hitap ederken merhameti, sabrı ve anlayışı merkeze alır. Bu ilkeye uyulmadığında gençler dini baskıcı veya uzak bir yapı gibi algılayabilir. Bunun tam aksine, İslam’a göre ideal olan; gençlerin sorularına açık olmak, dinin temelini oluşturan adalet, merhamet ve ahlaki bütünlük gibi değerleri hayatla ilişkilendirerek anlatmaktır. Ayrıca, dini temsil eden kişilerin tutarlı ve güvenilir bir duruş sergilemesi gençlerde güven oluşturur. İyi örneklerle karşılaşan genç, dini bir yük olarak değil, hayatı dengeleyen bir güç olarak görmeye başlar. Bu sebeple gençlerin uzaklaştığı şeyin çoğu zaman dinin özü değil, doğru temsil eksikliğidir.
ENGLISH:
Weakening of spiritual communication
From an Islamic perspective, the intense stimuli young people encounter in life make it difficult to maintain their spiritual connection. Academic pressure, social environments, the fast pace of urban life, and a constantly shifting agenda increase their mental fatigue, causing prayer routines and religious thought to fall behind. Additionally, when families explain religion only through prohibitions or react harshly to young people’s questions, spiritual communication weakens. Yet the Qur’an emphasizes mercy, patience, and understanding when addressing youth. When this principle is ignored, young people may perceive religion as restrictive or distant. In contrast, the ideal Islamic approach is to be open to their questions and relate core values such as justice, mercy, and moral integrity to real life. Consistent and trustworthy behavior from religious role models also builds confidence among the youth. When they encounter good examples, they see religion not as a burden but as a stabilizing force in life. Therefore, what youth drift away from is often not the essence of religion itself but its improper representation.
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