This in conclusion...

This in conclusion, in the issue of the leadership of the youth, more than anything else, there are two things which we must do: We must first recognize that which is troubling this generation. Once we have done this, then we can sit and think of the cure and remedy for their problems, since without knowing what is troubling them, it is not possible to go forth and cure the illness. The second thing is that the older generation must first correct themselves.

The older generation must ask forgiveness for the greatest sin which they have committed and that is that they have left and ignored the Qurʾan. We must all return back to this Qurʾan and place the Qurʾan in front of us and then march forward under the shadow of the guidance of the Qurʾan so that we will be able to reach to happiness and perfection. ! Selection of Ahadith The Youth قال رسول اللّه صلّى اللّه عليه وآله و سلّم: ألشباب شعبة من الجنون.

The Messenger of Allah (S) has said: “The period of the youth is from the stages of obsession.”[^6] قال الإمام عليّ عليه السّلام: جهل الشاب معذور وعلمه محقور. Imam ʿAli ibn Abi Talib (a.s.) has said: “The ignorance of the young person is excusable and his knowledge is limited.”[^7] قال الإمام عليّ عليه السّلام: شيئان لا يعرف فضلهما إلاّ من فقدهما: ألشّباب والعافية.

Imam ʿAli ibn Abi Talib (a.s.) has said: “There are two things which people do not recognize the greatness of until they lose them: their youth and good health.”[^8] قال رسول اللّه صلى اللّه عليه وآله و سلّم: خير شبابكم من تشبّه بكهولكم وشرّ كهولكم من تشّبه بشبابكم.

The Messenger of Allah (S) has said: “The best of your youth are those who resemble your old people[^9] and the worst of your old people are those who resemble your young people.”[^10] قال الإمام الصادق عليه السّلام: وصيّة ورقة بن نوفل لخديجة بنت خوليد إذا دخل عليها يقول لـها: إعلمي أن الشّاب الحسن الخلق مفتاح للخير مغلاق للشرّ، وأن الشّاب الشحيح الخلق مغلاق للخير مفتاح للشرّ.

Imam Jaʿfar ibn Muhammad as-Sadiq (a.s.) has said: “Any time Waraqah ibn Nawfil would go to see Khadijah binte Khuwaylid, he would advise her as such, ‘You should know that surely the young person who has good behaviour is the key to all goodness and is kept away from all evil, while the young person who has bad behaviour is kept away from all goodness and is the key to all evil.”[^11] قال الإمام عليّ عليه السّلام: إعلموا رحمكم اللّه أنّكم في زمان القائل فيه الحق قليل....فتاهم عارم، وشائبهم آثم، وعالـمهم منافق.