Muslims: what ways can we protect our youth from being brainwashed by radicals?

Answer 1

Its a complex situation. The primary way of radicalisation is education. If you correct the content and the context that they learn, there is a great chance that they may not get brainwashed. But there is also the motivation behind the teachers who try to radicalise these young minds. Why do they want to do that? What is their motivation behind doing that? What is the disenchantment with the modern world? What are they unhappy about? You cant clap with one hand. There is a wide divide between the east and the west. Both sides must compromise a little and arrive at a middle path. I firmly believe that religion is not the issue. Its something else. Maybe ego, maybe economics or maybe plain misunderstanding. Both sides need to draw each other out and give confidence. Non violence should be unconditional.

Answer 2

The same way Christians protect their children from Christian radicals. Teach them that religion is only a fable, not the truth.

Children at Jonestown and Waco, TX were not exposed to Muslim radicals. They were abused and murdered by Christian radicals.

What was that Bible verse about the speck in your brother's eye?

Answer 3

i Think it's a very hard way to do that, cause poverty and the lack of education are the major reasons for the terrorist attacks.
But i can believe we can begin making the sheikhs in mosqus, each friday ( cause most of the muslims pray salaat el gomaa), condemn the radical thoughts and attacks, and inovate the youth ta have more creative ideas than blowing theirselves up.

Answer 4

I don't think anyone can be protected by radicals because it is all around us -- media for example -- tv movies its everywhere-- even when u step out of your house -- unless you keep the kids locked in a room there is really no way of them getting out of being brainwashed!

Answer 5

Well no radicals talk to my children. Where would these radicals be? I have never met one.
My children learn from the Quran and Sunnah that is there guide not others interpretations or opinions.

Answer 6

Followers from whatever religion that strictly, literally, follow a religion will always be fanatic in someway or another. They tend to see their holy book as a recipe book or a math book, closing down their brains (which we got from God or through evolution, you fill in), their sense of humanity, their sense of fairness, their sense of being able to discern between good and bad, etc.
If God would have liked us to do what he commands why give us brains to think and rethink? Surely, humans without brains would have been a lot easier.

Moises ibn Maimonides, Erasmus, Gandhi, etc. were great men of different religions, because they thought and reflected.

Answer 7

Assalam-o-Alykom

My sis it depends on their ages, surrounding environment, and (the most important thing) the help of Allah.

They need to know their religion very well before they know about the different sects around them. Once they are aware of the true believe, the believe of Prophet and Assalaf-o-Assalih, you can start learn them more about the different religions and what is their mistakes (one by one and gradually).
You should give them enough answers for their concern to avoid the stranger to answer them.

Allah Knows Best

Answer 8

Well you know I think teenagers are very susceptible to taking things to the extreme. So I would try to fulfil their needs for knowledge, love and most importantly justice, before they go looking for other ways to do it.

Justice is something they always look for because teens feel like no one understands them and that theyre victimized by their family or other people.

If the family is cool, theyll find ways to feel victimized in society. If they listen to the news, theyll get effected by all the propaganda and political zeolots.

Also, the hormonal inconsistencies of teens make them feel like life is meaningless. We must find ways to make life meaningful for these kids. Or else they will find ways to make it meaningful by the wrong means like fighting in a war that makes anything Western look like the enemy.

Answer 9

Teach them the right way of Islam and let them daughters and sons read the Qur'an. Explain to them how to behave as Muslims and that violence is haraam in Islam. Tell them that the radicals are wrong and don't let them watch violent cartoons.

Answer 10

Make sure that they are not isolated from society who can oppose their views. Therefore talking to them to find out their possibly radical views helps, so that you can tell them what is wrong and what is right. Scientific research shows that those who do not have people to oppose their views become truly obsessed with what they have been taught and take it to extremes; this is the case with terrorists.