LNL With Ameer Deen The Rise Of The Youth Leaving Islam

·1 hr 15 min·5 clips

Ustad Hassan Sharif sees youth leaving Islam weekly, with 14-year-olds now asking university-level questions about faith.

The episode begins with host Amir Deen introducing Ustad Hassan Sharif, an organizer at iAcademy who teaches Islamic studies. The topic is the rise of Muslim youth leaving Islam, which Hassan confirms is a weekly occurrence, with questions getting younger, such as 14-year-olds asking about the problem of evil. They explore factors like social media, where TikTok algorithms feed short clips critiquing Islam, leading to rapid doubt formation. Materialism is another key factor, illustrated by a story of a 24-year-old chartered accountant who left Islam because religion seemed irrelevant to his financial goals. Community infrastructure is criticized, with an example of a 15-year-old boy whose doubts increased when a local imam avoided his questions about Christian critiques. The discussion covers identity issues, where mixed-race youth or converts may feel excluded, contributing to disengagement. Hassan emphasizes that Islam has rational answers but warns against ostracizing those with doubts, as it can push them further away. They also touch on how other faiths water down beliefs to adapt, while Islam's steadfastness can be a strength. The episode concludes with a call to action, promoting iAcademy's educational programs that focus on Islamic literacy, safe spaces for questions, and creative engagement to prevent doubts. Hassan shares that iAcademy uses the iSyllabus curriculum, has over 12 teachers, and targets ages 9 to 18, aiming to build confident Muslims through relatable instruction.

As heard by us

A steady discussion of faith, youth, and the pressures pulling them apart.

Late Night Live with Amir Deen takes on a hard, timely question: why some Muslim youth are leaving Islam, and what the community may be missing when that happens.

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Why you'd press play

If you want a reflective radio discussion on why some Muslim youth are leaving Islam, start here.

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