Civilizational Challenges Facing the Youth and a Return to Islamic Civilization: A Research Review

نوجوان نسل کو درپیش تہذیبی چیلنجز اور تہذیب اسلامی کی طرف مراجعت: ایک تحقیقی جائزہ

Abstract

This research review aims to examine the major civilizational challenges faced by the younger generation in today’s globalized world and to explore the relevance of Islamic civilization as a constructive response. The study specifically investigates how rapid technological advancement, cultural globalization, social media influence, materialism, and moral relativism affect the identity, values, and lifestyle of youth, often leading to moral uncertainty and detachment from spiritual roots. The objective of this study is to analyze these challenges and propose a balanced framework based on the essential principles of Islamic civilization. The methodology of this research is qualitative, descriptive, and analytical in nature. Relevant material has been collected from books, research articles, and the views of both Islamic and Western scholars, including Ibn Khaldun and Arnold J. Toynbee. Through a comparative and analytical approach, the study examines the causes of civilizational decline and the moral pressures experienced by contemporary youth. From an Islamic perspective, these issues are not merely social but also ethical and spiritual. Islamic civilization is founded upon faith (īmān), moral integrity, modesty, justice, knowledge, and collective responsibility. The findings suggest that a conscious return to these principles offers a practical solution to the identity crisis and moral instability of modern youth. Such a return does not imply isolation from modernity but encourages critical and ethical engagement with it. The study concludes that the revival of Islamic civilizational values provides a viable framework for enabling youth to preserve faith while participating productively in global society.