Young people are often told to wait: wait until they are grown up, have a job, are married, before taking religion seriously. The Quran says the opposite.
The Quran Honors Youth
إِنَّهُمْ فِتْيَةٌ آمَنُوا بِرَبِّهِمْ وَزِدْنَاهُمْ هُدًى
« They were young men who believed in their Lord, and We increased them in guidance. » (meaning of the verse, Al-Kahf 18:13)
The People of the Cave were young, standing alone against their society. Many of the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ were themselves young. Among the seven categories whom Allah will shade under His shadow, on the day when there will be no shade but His: a young person who grew up worshipping Allah (Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 660; Sahih Muslim, no. 1031).
And each one will be questioned about their life, and about their youth, how they spent it (Jami' at-Tirmidhi, no. 2416). Youth is a question of its own, because it is a capital of its own.
Your friends decide more than you think
« A man follows the religion of his close friend, so let each one look at whom he takes as a friend » (Sunan Abi Dawud, no. 4833; Jami' at-Tirmidhi, no. 2378).
The Prophet ﷺ gave an image: the good companion is like the musk seller: either he gives you some, or you buy some from him, or you walk away with a good scent. The bad companion is like the blacksmith: either he burns your clothes, or you walk away with a bad smell (Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 5534; Sahih Muslim, no. 2628).
The Quran describes the regret, on the Last Day, of the one who will say: "Woe to me! If only I had not taken such a person as a friend" (25:27-29).
Three questions to choose by
- With him, am I becoming better or worse? In my prayer, my studies, my speech.
- Does he remind me of Allah, or does he make me forget Him?
- Does he tell me the truth, even when it displeases me?
Having good manners with everyone does not mean taking everyone as a confidant. You can be polite with your neighborhood and carefully choose the three or four people who truly matter.
Peer pressure
Cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, gambling, "broutage", relationships outside marriage: almost everything starts with "everyone does it". The people of the cave chose to leave their environment rather than their faith. Saying no has a cost in the moment; saying yes has a cost later, and it is heavier.
To young people who are able, the Prophet ﷺ recommended marriage, and to those who cannot yet, fasting, which protects (Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 5065; Sahih Muslim, no. 1400).
A simple plan
1. Your five prayers on time: this is the backbone of everything else. 2. A mosque where you know someone, and one class per week. 3. A friend who pulls you upward. 4. A project: a diploma, a trade, a skill. 5. Your parents: their satisfaction opens doors you cannot see.
If you are going through a hard time (addiction, bad company, doubt), talk to your imam or a trusted adult: there is no shame in asking for help.