March 2005: Page 1, 2, 3, 4

Submitters Perspective

Page 3

Peer Pressure

Cont’d from page 2

  • Ditching school
  • Not being “smart”
  • Lying
  • To be someone else
  • Being “popular” at the expense of losing righteousness
  • Cheating
  • Being rude/disobedient to parents
  • Peer pressuring others

[2:219] They ask you about intoxicants and gambling: say, “In them there is a gross sin, and some benefits for the people. But their sinfulness far outweighs their benefit.” They also ask you what to give to charity: say, “The excess.” GOD thus clarifies the revelations for you that you may reflect.

As righteous, young Submitters, God expects us to follow the highest moral values given throughout the Quran and feel proud of our values, our faith and our strength in the face of any peer pressure or any blame.

[5:54] O you who believe, if you revert from your religion, then GOD will substitute in your place people whom He loves and who love Him. They will be kind with the believers, stern with the disbelievers, and will strive in the cause of GOD without fear of any blame. Such is GOD’s blessing; He bestows it upon whomever He wills. GOD is Bounteous, Omniscient.

Most of those who fall for peer pressure are insecure youth who lack self confidence, who are ignorant about their religion, and have such a weak faith that the great


values given in the scripture are never on their minds.

On the contrary, a true young Submitter is armed with knowledge and understanding of his/her religion, is self confident, and stands tall and proud of being on God’s side. A good self-confident Submitter will be the strength and focus of their circle of friends. These friends will admire and try to move up to the Submitter’s level of moral excellency.

The Submitter will not try to lower him or herself down to match the moral values of the circle of friends. That is what we can call an admirable reverse of peer pressure.

Managing peer pressure

(1) Move away from certain circles of friends. Befriending the right people is an essential means for staying on the straight path and avoiding unnecessary peer pressure. In choosing our friends we should be looking for friends who believe in God and His scriptures.

Living in a society where Submitters are a minority is a challenge by itself that is fully rewarded by God. In such a society, finding a righteous friend may not be easy at the beginning but insisting on them and looking for them is a sign to God that you are sincere in your search and He will direct you in the right path.

(2) Don’t ever feel that you are missing out or living a boring life just because you don’t give in to peer pressure. Accepting the bad behavior prohibited in the Quran will end in more misery than the temporary pleasure that it starts with in the beginning.

(3) Study the Quran. Learn what behavior is pleasing to God, and what kind of lifestyle is discouraged in Submission.

(4) Whenever peer pressure befalls us, remembering God is the best thing we can do. When God is with us, we can resist anything, as Joseph did when the lady of the house seduced him.

[12:23] The lady of the house where he lived tried to seduce him. She closed the doors and said, “I am all yours.” He said, “May GOD protect me. He is my Lord, who gave me a good home. The transgressors never succeed.”

(5) You should be armed with knowledge about your religion, Submission (Islam in Arabic). Have knowledge about the risk of unrighteous behavior that is encouraged by people around you. Such knowledge will help you to resist the temptation of peer pressure and know how to stand for the righteous behavior.

As a young person holding to your faith and all the beautiful moral values you should be assured that God will be your supporter and help you as He did for Joseph.

[3:150] GOD alone is your Lord and Master, and He is the best supporter.

As a Submitter youth, you are so lucky, because not only do you have parents who care, but God our Lord and Master is your supporter and helper to get over these difficulties. You are lucky because you have the Quran, a book that gives you the right answer and draws for you the righteous map to avoid all the misachievements caused by peer pressure during the difficult times. You should be happy and rejoice in having God, the Quran, your parents and your good friends, all on your side.

The Submitter youth of Orange County, California