How Do I Deal with Youth Who Want to Leave Islam?
Answered by Imam Yama Niazi
Question
What is the best way to deal with adolescents/young adults who, despite having been taught Islam and coming from a practicing family, have doubts about Islam and don’t want to follow the religion? Should one keep ties with them and continue to support them even if their outward suggests they do not believe and act in a disrespectful and sinful manner, or cut ties while they are in that state but leave the door open if they come back to belief?
Answer
May Allah bless you and thank you for the question.
The best way to deal with anyone wanting to leave Islam is not to cut them off. Keep relations with them to the extent that you feel you may help them and guide them. We have a responsibility towards the creation to help and guide them. Sometimes people have real questions and are genuinely confused.
- Be a good example of the faith yourself. Be a light to others.
- Keep ties with them and help them by guiding them to resources that
may help them. Even inspiring talks on Islam sometimes help many people. - Some or perhaps most people turn away from Islam because they never learned the religion properly. They end up hating cultural things rather than the truth of Islam.
Allah reminds us to call to Him in the best manner, the Prophetic method of mercy, wisdom, and knowledge.
“Invite [all] to the Way of your Lord with wisdom and kind advice, and only debate with them in the best manner. Surely your Lord [alone] knows best who has strayed from His Way and who is [rightly] guided.” [Quran, 16:125]
Allah knows best
[Imam] Yama Niazi
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Imam Yama Niazi has studied with local scholars in the USA for a number of years which culminated in him becoming an imam of the Islamic Society of Santa Barbara for 8 years. He served the community by teaching and leading prayers. In 2015 he founded “the blessed tree” a nonprofit specifically for bridging gaps between the Muslim community and others. He has spoken on many Muslim platforms throughout the USA and Canada and conducted programs in local communities in North America. He is an instructor at SeekersGuidance.
