Teenage Brawls and Their Solutions in Islam

 

Teen Brawls: Islamic Perspective and Solutions in Achieving Peace

Introduction Teen brawls are a social phenomenon that frequently occurs in various societies, including Indonesia. These brawls often lead to physical violence, property damage, and even loss of life. In the Islamic perspective, teen brawls are behaviors that contradict religious and humanitarian values. This article will discuss teen brawls and their solutions based on Islamic teachings in achieving peace and social harmony.

I. Islamic Understanding of Violence

Islam is a religion of peace that teaches compassion, peace, and justice. The Qur'an emphasizes the importance of maintaining harmony and harmonious relationships between individuals and society. Allah SWT states in Surah Al-Hujurat [49:13]:

"O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted."

II. Causes of Teen Brawls

There are several factors that contribute to teen brawls, including:

Lack of Religious Education: Poor understanding of Islamic values and a lack of religious knowledge often serve as triggers for teen brawls. When teenagers do not understand Islamic principles such as compassion, justice, and peace, they become more susceptible to involvement in brawls and violence.

Environmental Influences: Environmental factors such as negative peer groups, disharmonious family environments, or unsupportive school environments can influence teenage behavior. When teenagers are exposed to unsupportive environments, they tend to engage in brawls as a means of expressing dissatisfaction and seeking identity.

Social Pressure: Social demands, such as reputation or pressure to join certain groups, can trigger teen brawls. Teenagers often feel trapped in a spiral of violence due to social pressure and the desire to be accepted by their surroundings.

III. Solutions in Islam

In the Islamic perspective, there are several solutions that can be implemented to address teen brawls and achieve peace:

Strong Religious Education:

A solid and correct religious education is the primary solution to addressing teen brawls. Through proper understanding of Islam, teenagers can grasp the values of peace, forgiveness, and mutual respect. Good religious education should involve in-depth understanding of the Qur'an and Hadith, as well as teaching moral and ethical principles emphasized in Islamic teachings. Schools and religious educational institutions should actively contribute to strengthening religious understanding among the younger generation.

The Importance of Family Upbringing:

Families play a crucial role in shaping the character of teenagers. Parents must ensure that their children receive proper religious education and provide them with sufficient attention. Parents should serve as good examples in behavior, demonstrate love, and provide proper guidance to their children. By involving children in religious activities and teaching Islamic values from an early age, parents can help prevent teen brawls.

School Guidance and Mentoring:

Schools also have a significant role in nurturing responsible individuals with a good understanding of religion. Programs such as extracurricular activities that reinforce moral and religious values can help prevent teen brawls. Additionally, schools should create a positive learning environment where tolerance, respect, and cooperation are actively promoted.

Guidance and Mentoring by Muslim Youth:

Muslim youth with a strong understanding of religion and Islamic values should actively contribute to guiding vulnerable teenagers away from brawls. Muslim youth can form youth groups or organizations focused on moral and spiritual development. They can organize activities such as lectures, discussions, and religious teachings aimed at improving understanding of Islam and promoting peace and social harmony.

Understanding Conflict and Islamic Conflict Resolution:

Teenagers need to be provided with a good understanding of conflict and Islamic methods of resolution. Islam teaches the importance of dialogue, mediation, and peaceful conflict resolution. Teenagers should be taught how to control their emotions, communicate effectively, and seek fair and Islam-based solutions when faced with conflicts or differences of opinion. It can also be explained that seeking closeness to Allah or engaging in remembrance of Him can help calm the emotional turmoil of teenagers.

Conclusion

Teen brawls are a serious issue that threatens the security and peace of society. In the Islamic perspective, teen brawls are behaviors that contradict religious and humanitarian values. Strong religious education, the important role of families in providing proper religious upbringing, school guidance and mentoring, active involvement of Muslim youth in guiding teenagers, and a good understanding of conflict and Islamic conflict resolution are all solutions within Islam to address teen brawls.

In addressing teen brawls, it is important to adopt a holistic and integrated approach. A strong religious education, encompassing understanding of Islamic values such as compassion, peace, and forgiveness, is the foundation for preventing violent behavior. Parents, schools, and religious institutions must work together to provide proper religious education to teenagers.

Furthermore, families play a crucial role in shaping the character of teenagers. Parents must lead by example and provide sufficient attention to their children. Good upbringing, based on Islamic values such as respect, patience, and justice, can help prevent teenagers from getting involved in brawls.

Schools also have a significant role in preventing teen brawls. In addition to providing formal education, schools should create a positive learning environment where Islamic values such as tolerance, respect, and cooperation are emphasized. Extracurricular programs that reinforce moral and religious values can also help shape the character of teenagers.

Muslim youth can make significant contributions in addressing teen brawls. They can form youth groups that focus on moral and spiritual development. Through activities such as lectures, discussions, and religious teachings, they can help teenagers understand Islamic values and encourage them to live in peace and harmony.

Lastly, teenagers need to be provided with a good understanding of conflict and Islamic methods of resolution. They should be taught how to control their emotions, communicate effectively, and seek fair solutions based on Islamic values when faced with conflicts. With a good understanding of peaceful conflict resolution, teenagers can avoid brawl-like behaviors and create a harmonious environment.

In conclusion, teen brawls are a serious issue that must be addressed seriously. The Islamic perspective offers strong solutions in shaping responsible, peaceful, and harmonious teenagers. Through strong religious education, the important role of families, school guidance and mentoring, the active contribution of Muslim youth, and a good understanding of Islamic conflict resolution, we can hope to create a society free from teen brawls and filled with peace.

Wa Allahu 'Alamu bi Shawab

(And Allah knows best).

ISTIQAMAH IN OBEDIENCE

"And remain steadfast as you have been commanded, and those who have turned back with you [to Allah]. And do not transgress. Indeed, He is Seeing of what you do." (Hud: 112)

In this verse, Allah commands His servants to be steadfast in goodness and consistent in following His guidance. The previous verses describe how the Children of Israel did not adhere firmly to the Torah and had disagreements about it. As a result, some of them believed while others disbelieved. Therefore, to prevent a repetition of such a situation, verse 112 reminds the Prophet to consistently adhere to the Quran and its teachings.

We often hear or even say the word "istiqamah" (steadfastness), but many people still do not fully understand its meaning. If we relate it to the current condition, there are still many Muslims who are not consistent in practicing obedience to Allah. A factual example that we can see around us is regarding modest dressing. Sometimes a person will cover their 'awrah (intimate parts) only in certain situations, just to conform to the prevailing circumstances, but in other situations, they may deliberately expose their 'awrah, especially in the current era of advanced technology and an unsupportive environment. This makes it challenging to maintain steadfastness. 

We often hear or even say the word "istiqamah" (steadfastness), but many people still do not fully understand its meaning. If we relate it to the current condition, there are still many Muslims who are not consistent in practicing obedience to Allah. A factual example that we can see around us is regarding modest dressing. Sometimes a person will cover their 'awrah (intimate parts) only in certain situations, just to conform to the prevailing circumstances, but in other situations, they may deliberately expose their 'awrah, especially in the current era of advanced technology and an unsupportive environment. This makes it challenging to maintain steadfastness.

The first factor often encountered is the lack of understanding among people regarding the obligation of covering the 'awrah as a duty for a Muslim, not just as a fashion choice to appear beautiful, elegant, or charming. It seems as if covering the 'awrah is merely an empty symbol of faith. Consequently, there is an image of someone who wears hijab but still engages in acts of immorality such as adultery, corruption, and others, which provides an opportunity for enemies of Islam to tarnish the beauty of Islam itself. Additionally, there are other opinions that suggest "covering the heart first before wearing the hijab." However, Islamic Sharia is inseparable from faith. As the meaning of faith known by Muslims, it is the conviction in the heart that is expressed through words and demonstrated through actions. Are we still confused?

The second factor is the unsupportive environment, whether at home or in society. Since steadfastness is a challenging matter, we cannot walk alone because our actions may clash with the desires of others that contradict our steadfastness. Therefore, the surrounding environment is a crucial factor in maintaining one's steadfastness.

Creating a supportive environment like this is not easy as it requires important parties to organize it, so that the life we live becomes harmonious, respectful, and supportive. However, if the authorities are unwilling to fulfill our expectations, we can at least try to create it ourselves by inviting people around us as a form of practicing the obligation of enjoining good and forbidding evil, and striving together in steadfastness on the path of truth.

Finally, the third factor is our intention. When we truly have a strong intention and determination, our limbs will no longer feel compelled to perform acts of obedience. We will spontaneously perform them without being commanded, and we will feel restless if we do not do them. However, we should not feel secure with our intentions; they need to be frequently self-evaluated and rectified to ensure they do not deviate from the initial purpose. The following hadith explains:

On the authority of Amir al-Mu'minin Abu Hafs 'Umar bin al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say, "Actions are only by intentions, and every person will have only what they intended. So whoever migrated for the sake of Allah and His Messenger, then his migration was for Allah and His Messenger. And whoever migrated for worldly gain or to marry a woman, then his migration was for the sake of what he migrated for." (Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)

Scholars have included this hadith about intentions at the beginning of their discussions in various books. This is not done without purpose and intention; in fact, this hadith is included in 70 chapters of fiqh (jurisprudence) issues. Imam Shafi'i stated that this hadith constitutes one-third of knowledge, and even Imam Dawud categorized it as half of the religion. Abdullah bin Mubarok said, "Many great deeds become insignificant because of their intentions, and many trivial deeds become significant because of their intentions."

Intention plays a significant role in our daily activities because, although it is located at the beginning of each action we intend to perform, it also determines the ultimate goal of our lives.

In Islam, istiqamah means having a firm and unwavering stance. In the book "Riyad al-Salihin," it is explained that istiqamah means progressing, being straight, continuously improving, and not remaining stagnant. It should be better each day. If it remains the same as the previous day, then it falls into a category of loss, as mentioned in the following hadith:

"If today you are worse than yesterday, then you are among the wretched or disgraced. If you are the same as yesterday, then you are among the losers. But if you are better than yesterday, then you are among the fortunate." (Ibn Majah)

Indeed, those who remain steadfast on the path of Allah will have no fear and will not grieve. Allah says in Surah Al-Ahqaf, verses 13-14:

"Indeed, those who have said, 'Our Lord is Allah' and then remained on a right course - there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve. Those are the companions of Paradise, abiding eternally therein as reward for what they used to do."

Furthermore, it is mentioned in a hadith, "Indeed, Allah loves a small deed done consistently."

And Allah knows best.

May we always remain steadfast on His path.

By: N@yla

ISTIQOMAH DALAM KETAATAN

 

واستقم كما أمرت ومن تاب معك ولا تطغوا (هود : 112 )

“Maka tetaplah engkau pada jalan yang benar…” (Hud:112)

 

Dalam ayat ini Allah memerintahkan hambanya untuk istiqomah dalam kebaikan dan konsisten dalam mengikuti tuntunan Allah SWT. Karena pada ayat sebelumnya dikisahkan bahwa bani israil tidak berpegang teguh kepada taurat dan berselisih tentangnya. Akibatnya, Sebagian dari mereka ada yang mempercayai dan ada pula yang tidak mempercayainya. Maka, agar kisah tersebut tidak terulangi Kembali, ayat 112 mengingatkan nabi agar senantiasa konsisten berpegang teguh pada alquran dan ajarannya.

 

Mungkin kita sering mendengar atau bahkan mengucapkan kata istiqomah, tetapi masih banyak orang yang belum paham makna dari istiqomah itu sendiri. Jika kita kaitkan dengan kondisi yang sekarang, masih banyak di antara kaum muslimim yang belum konsisten dalam menjalankan ketaatan pada Allah SWT. Contoh fakta yang bisa kita lihat di sekitar kita, seperti dalam berpakaian. Terkadang seseorang akan menutup auratnya di kondisi kondisi tertentu saja, hanya untuk menyesuaikan dengan keadaan sekitar yang ada, karena di kondisi lain bisa saja ia membuka kembali auratnya, bahkan  mengumbarnya dengan sengaja, apalagi  keadaan zaman sekarang, perkembangan teknologi yang canggih, dan lingkungan yang tidak mendukung membuat istikamah itu terasa berat.

Faktor pertama yang sering dijumpai yaitu, pemahaman masyarakat yang masih kurang terkait kewajiban dalam menutup aurat sebagai sebuah kewajiban bagi seorang muslim, bukan sekedar fashion agar terlihat cantik, anggun dan menawan. Seakan-akan menutup aurat hanya simbol yang kosong dari keimanan. Akhirnya muncul image meskipun berhijab tapi masih melakukan kemaksiatan seperti berzina, korupsi dan lain-lain, yang membuat kesempatan bagi musuh Islam untuk memperburuk citra keindahan Islam itu sendiri. Selain itu, opini lain muncul seperti "jilbabin hati dulu sebelum berjilbab". Padahal syari'at Islam itu tidak terpisah dari keimanan. Sebagaimana makna Iman yang diketahui oleh umat Islam yaitu keyakinan dalam hati yang diucapkan dengan lisan dan dibuktikan dengan amal perbuatan. Masihkah merasa bingung?

Faktor kedua, lingkungan yang tidak mendukung, baik di rumah atau pun masyarat. karna istiqomah adalah suatu hal yang cukup berat, tidak mungkin kita berjalan sendiri, karena aksn berbenturan dengan keinginan orang lain yang bertentangan dengan keistiqamahan kita, maka lingkungan sekitar adalah faktor yang sangat penting dalam menjaga keistiqamahan seseorang. 

Menciptakan lingkungan yang mendukung semacam ini tidaklah mudah, karena butuh pihak-pihak yang penting yang mengatur, agar kehidupan yang dijalani menjadi seirama dan saling menghormati dan mendukung. Namun jika pihak yang berwenang tidak bersedia mewujudkan harapan kita, maka minimal kita bisa mencoba menciptakan sendiri dengan  mengajak orang di sekitar sebagai bentuk pelaksanaan syariat beramal ma'ruf nahi munkar, dan berusaha mengajak bersama dalam keistiqomahan di jalan kebenaran.

Akhirnya, melakukan ketaan secara bersamaan menjadi lebih mudah dan ringan. Maka dari itu seharusnya kita senantiasa peduli dengan orang-orang di sekitar kita, terutama orang terdekat, karena keistiqomah teman dekat kita akan yang memengaruhi kita, pun sebaliknya, karena kerburukan itu cepat sekali menular.

Kemudian, faktor yang ketiga yaitu niat kita, Ketika kita benar-benar memiliki niat dan tekad yang kuat, maka anggota tubuh ini tidak lagi merasa terpaksa untuk melakukan ketaatan demi ketaatan. Ia akan spontan melakukan tanpa disuruh, dan akan gelisah jika tidak melakukan. kemudian kita jangan merasa aman dengan niat yang sudah kita buat, ia harus sering dimuhasabahi dan diluruskan agar senatiasa tidak menyimpang dari tujuan awal. Dalam hadist berikut ini menjelaskan,

Dari Amirul mukminin, Abu Hafsh umar bin khattab ra berkata, aku mendengar Rasulullah SAW bersabda :

 “segala perbuatan itu tergantung pada niatnya, setiap orang akan mendapatkan pahala dari apa yang diniatkannya” (HR. Bukhari dan muslim)

 

Para ulama memasukkan hadist niat ini diawal pembahasan kitab-kitab mereka, hal ini dilakukan tentu bukan tanpa maksud dan tujuan, bahkan hadist ini masuk dalam 70 bab masalah fiqih, imam syafi’i mengatakan bahwa hadist ini merupakan sepertiga dari ilmu, bahkan imam dawud ra pun mengkategorikan sebagai separuh dari agama. Abdullah bin mubarok berkata :

“Berapa banyak amal yang besar menjadi kecil karena niatnya, dan berapa banyak amalan yang remeh menjadi besar karna niatnya”

Niat memiliki peranan penting dalam aktivitas kita sehari hari, karena niat meskipun letaknya diawal dalam setiap perbuatan yang hendak kita lakukan, akan tetapi niat juga menentukan tujuan akhir dari hidup kita.

 

Dalam islam, istiqomah adalah hal berpendirian kuat atau teguh pendirian, dan dijelaskan dalam kitab riyadush-sholihin bahwa istiqomah itu maju, lurus, terus meningkat, tidak tetap, bahkan seharusnya lebih baik hari demi hari. Dan jika sama saja seperti hari sebelumnya maka ia akan termasuk orang yang merugi, sebagaimana yang disebutkan dalam hadist dibawah ini.

“jika hari ini engkau lebih buruk dibandingkan hari kemarin maka engkau termasuk orang yang celaka atau tercela, dan jika engkau sama saja seperti hari kemarin maka engkau akan termasuk orang yang merugi, begitu juga jika engkau bisa lebih baik dari hari kemarin maka engkau termasuk orang yang beruntung”  

Dan sesungguhnya orang orang yang senantiasa istiqomah pada jalan-NYA niscaya ia tidak memiliki rasa khawatir dan tidak merasa bersedih hati. Allah berfirman pada surah Al-ahqaf ayat 13-14  :

 

 { إِنَّ ٱلَّذِینَ قَالُوا۟ رَبُّنَا ٱللَّهُ ثُمَّ ٱسۡتَقَـٰمُوا۟ فَلَا خَوۡفٌ عَلَیۡهِمۡ وَلَا هُمۡ یَحۡزَنُونَ (13) أُو۟لَـٰۤىِٕكَ أَصۡحَـٰبُ ٱلۡجَنَّةِ خَـٰلِدِینَ فِیهَا جَزَاۤءَۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ یَعۡمَلُونَ (14) }

"Sesungguhnya orang-orang yang berkata, "Tuhan kami adalah Allah," kemudian mereka tetap istiqamah,tidak ada rasa khawatir pada mereka, tidak (pula) bersedih hati.  Mereka itulah para penghuni surga, kekal di dalamnya; sebagai balasan atas apa yang telah mereka kerjakan".

[Surat Al-Ahqaf: 13-14]

Dan sungguh telah disebutkan dalam hadist  “Bahwa Allah mencintai suatu amal kecil ataupun sedikitit tetapi dilakukan secara terus menerus”

Wa Allahu A’lamu bi Shawab. 

Semoga kita senantiasa istiqomah pada jalan-NYA.

Oleh: N@yla