Imams Decry Moral Degradation
By Azlan Othman

Bandar Seri Begawan - An alarming trend of nose-diving moral standards among Muslim teens was acknowledged by religious leaders yesterday who called upon parents and elders to make sure Brunei youngsters towed the line.

The religious authorities in their Friday sermon raised the issues of permissive behaviour among youth, making spectacles of themselves in public by kissing and canoodling openly in public, wearing tight fitting clothes, revealing body contours among other unsociable habits.

Calling it an obviously alarming trend, Imams also expressed dismay over a current moral crisis facing local Muslim teenagers. The new attitude of the teenagers who socialised without boundaries and engage in immoral lifestyles has got to be changed the Imams said urging parents not to take this matter lightly.

"The nation is now in festive mood. We should celebrate appropriately, expressing thanks and with happiness.

During this celebration, there will be entertainment which should be held with appropriate norms, courtesy and not against the religion. During the celebration, the Imams cautioned not to neglect religious obligations and official duties, while students were urged not to neglect their studies.

"Parents should not allow their kids to go out freely as it was a parental responsibility to look after their wellbeing," Imams said.

The religious authorities added, in this globalised era, parent should not take lightly the way their children socialise. Certain sections of the society socialised freely without limits. Teenagers were seen engaging in immoral acts and activities, be it in shopping complexes or at recreational parks.

It is now becoming a trend that they are proud-of, where shame is put aside. They are not shy to kiss and hug openly in public. They wore tight-fitting clothes, pants and shorts dyed their hair and socialised freely, forgetting social norms.

Such immoral acts also happened at schools like vandalism, smoking, extortion, drug abuse and indulging in sex before marriage. The degradation of moral values among Muslim teenagers was obvious and alarming.

Most of the social and immoral acts were caused by the background of the broken parents themselves, failure to give proper religious education, influenced by the surrounding environment and outside influences that jeorpadised Islamic values and culture.

The media played an effective role too in changing their minds. Films and magazines that are readily available coupled with Internet access polluted the teen minds if not used wisely. Internet should be used properly and not be abused.

To overcome the dilution of moral values among Muslim teenagers, Imams urged clear moral guidelines by strengthening religious education. A child is a form of trust from Allah that should be given utmost attention looked after for the good of the nation, society and the community.

It is saddening to note that there are parents who tend to ignore their, responsibilities such as by allowing them to socialise freely and openly, live together unlawfully and disrespect parents as the leaders in the family. Parents seem to be powerless in controlling such ills in their own children. Imams also urged all parties to be responsible in tackling such issue and to reject the wrong doings.  -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

Related News: Friday Sermon Reiterates Role Of Parents

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