Film

Best Song…..EVER

Published

August 29, 2013

Hena Zuberi

By Hena Zuberi

Them: Hena Auntie – can you take us to the mall?
Me: “OK, get in the car, let’s go.”

A gaggle of girls in the car and they bust out A Capella style-

Tik Tok on the clock but the party don’t stop, no
Grab my glasses, I’m out the door, I’m gonna hit this city
(Let’s go) Before I leave, brush my teeth with a bottle of Jack

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I almost ran into the landscaper’s truck ahead of me.

Cause when I leave for the night,
I ain’t coming back
I’m talking pedicure on our toes, toes
Boys blowing up our phones, phones
Drop top and playin’ our favorite CDs
Pullin’ up to the parties
Tryna to get a little bit tipsy.

They lowered their voices at tipsy, perhaps realizing who they were singing in front of.

Me: “Jaani, do you know what Jack is or tipsy?”
I was surprised. Honestly, I thought they would just say no, but they told me exactly what it was.

Awkward silence

One of them: “Why isn’t alcohol allowed?”

Another: “What does it do to you?”

At least they can talk to me I thought to myself…. and we did.

“We could halalofy the lyrics!” piped our resident bookworm and they spend the rest of the trip doing just that.

“(Let’s go) Before we leave brush my teeth, do wudu

cause when I leave for masjid school I ain’t coming back”

I Googled the rest of the lyrics, as soon as I got home. KE$HA – TIK TOK LYRICS

U huh! Lyrics of songs have gotten much more hard core since when I was a kid.

Katy Perry was another name I was hearing in this age group. So I checked her out on my own.

‘Go all the way tonight, just love – no regrets,’

Not quite the message I want to pass on to my children, with or without music.

Check the lyrics of what they are listening to

Warning labels barely worked when the world used CD’s; now with instant iTunes downloads, there is nothing tangible to see before purchasing. Your child downloads songs and all you get is a $1.99 bill on your Am Ex Card.

If they are young, you can and should forbid them if you find them inappropriate; older teens need to hear your perspective and learn to be critical on their own on what they are feeding their souls.

I have two young boys ( 6 & 7). I want to be prepared for their teens and am rearing them in such a way that they don’t objectify women or treat them like toys and part of this is making them aware of the world around them that perpetuates these views, that includes the kind of music that is popular.

Many media studies show that sex is always the most popular theme in almost all types of music genres that are regularly listed in the top of music video charts and channels. This means that not only do these songs encourage profanity and sexual promiscuity through the lyrics; they also show it visually with the music videos. This leads to the socialization of the young adults who are watching them. Research also shows that the recurrent viewing of television and music videos is directly linked to the risk of increasing beliefs in sexual stereotypes and decreased body satisfaction like the obsession of gaining muscularity in boys and staying ‘thin and sexy’ in teenage girls in the hope of being recognized as sexually attractive.

The words for the top rap songs for this year include calling women ‘hoes’, dreaming about bisexuality, and glorifying prison. Most songs on the top ten list take away all that is spiritual and magnificent about intimacy between a husband and wife, reducing it to an animal like gyration or glamorous fabrication. Even songs that contain ‘positive messages’ like staying away from drugs or corruption in the system are often so profane and have every swear word in the book.

Song Lyrics across generations

We know how it works- this is not new. If it had a good beat most of us didn’t care (or don’t care) what the words were (are). When Akon started singing in Hindi movies, parents I know who listen to Hindi music didn’t realize they were letting a man in their homes, cars and iPods that glorified stripping and immorality and sang very sexually explicit songs. Side note: Akon says that he is Muslim (duas for his & our continued guidance).

When I was a kid, my friends and I listened to Tiffany and Debbie Gibson and their songs normalized dating and the hanging out with the opposite sex (both of them later went on to pose for an x-rated magazine, so Miley Cyrus’s recent act didn’t surprise me). Madonna and Cyndi Lauper messed with my mind in my teens. Research done in the nineties suggests that regular viewers of television programs (including MTV et al) featuring sexuality are more likely to be preoccupied with sex, will have a stronger belief that sex is more regular and popular among young people than it actually is, are more likely to be “sanguine about the sanctity of marriage,” believe that sex rarely has negative consequences, and are more likely to think they know more about sex, romance, and love than others. (Greenberg, Stanley, Siemicki, Heeter, Soderman, & Linsangan, 1993)

My dad’s generation listened to the Rolling Stones and Boney M which had its own misogyny and race issues. So each generation has their own demons.

One Direction- Capturing the Hearts of our Girls

One direction is a boy band. They sing about loving the girl regardless of how she looks or how insecure she may be feeling about herself. It sells.

1D fans who call themselves “Directioners” crush over their favorite band members who “in turn cultivate their fan base minute by minute via social media, especially Twitter.” There are 1-D undies, jewelry, perfume in a pretty, pink bottle complete with a crown. Wattpad is filled with 1D fanfiction– stories written by fans with over 20 million reads each.

Why am I telling you this? If you have a directioner in your house you will know that their lead singer is named Zayn Malik.
Let’s face it, he is ‘cute’ and tweets out La illah illalaha Muhammad ur rasulAllah. His name has made Zayn (and subsequently Zaynab) a ‘normal’ mainstream name here in the West, not an oddity. So Muslim girls feel a connection.

His being Muslim/desi interests girls who otherwise would not be attracted to celebrity of another or no faith. Sabby’s comments left on a website are classic.

Sabby: it matters to muslim girls cuz we r muslim.. n we cant marry a non-muslim guy.. so am so proud he is muslim n he is keeping it up even thoh he grew up in UK! so am so proud and excited! … i guess u wont understand cuz ur not muslim.. so its like big thing for us!

………….

.

Me (when I overheard her friends tease her): So you think you are going to be Mrs. Malik?

Daughter: Mama we joke about it but I really don’t, but I think my friend does. She says he prays 5 times a day… but he does smoke … and he does have a girlfriend. I like his hairstyle. (UPDATE: since I wrote this he is now engaged to his girlfriend leading to the heartbreak of many a ZaynGirl).
This conversation a year ago was an ideal moment for some teaching time on judging, different sort of sins, huqooq (the rights) of Allah, and huqooq (the rights) of a person’s body over him or her. And we talked about that fact that yes, he is Muslim but that doesn’t make him her anything. We have had several conversations on what qualities make a good husband and most importantly about lowering the gaze. And we will continue to have them.

Fans were nutty when I was a teen too but this is seriously creepy. So if your child is a directioner, it would be a good time (since they have a movie coming out tomorrow) to have a chat about a ‘new kind of idol worshiping’, consequences of making threats online, the role of social media, and frankly, obsession.

All of us have had some sort of obsession at that age, so surely they will outgrow it. Many times crushes like these are opening the doors of sexual maturity. An important part of sexual exploration and growth takes place during adolescence, at which time young men and women begin to give thought to which sexual behaviors are enjoyable, moral, and acceptable for their cohort (LeVay & Valente, 2003).

I would talk about her feelings so she can handle and control them. Your guidance is crucial.

If she gets depressed because she can’t meet them or can’t go to their concert or imagines that she really knows them and if they are the only topic she talks about with interest, talk to her about that too. If her obsession, or any behaviors related to it, start interfering with salah, home, school or family responsibilities then there is a very serious issue.

Let her know that she lights up your world like nobody else.

I, I want to save you, save you, save you, tonight

Hiding from the world doesn’t help. Many children and youth listen to music whether their parents know it or not.

I hear this a lot:
“My child goes to Islamic School”
“We have a strict environment in our house”
“My children don’t have an iPod.”
Unless you live on a secluded island with no one around you for a 1000 miles, you are being delusional if you think that your child is not being exposed to this at some level.

This is Us

We don’t listen to instrumental music in our house and do not have cable but my daughters were still exposed to it enough for me to be having these conversations with them. I moved from Los Angeles and now live in one of the most conservative Muslim communities in North America (most women and girls over the age of 13 wear abaya, strict segregation etc), and all I can say is teens are teens, in an abaya and hijab or t-shirt and capris. Being informed and updated, along with communicating with your children and dua are the best shields that a parent can have in this world. There simply isn’t enough being said to counter the exaggerated and misleading sexual images that is shown to our boys and girls on a daily basis.

So we Play, Play, Play on the same all Games

This is what I wish I could say to girls between the age of 10-18: Uploading a picture of One Direction in their undies on your phone is just as bad as your brother posting a poster of Selena Gomez in a bikini on his wall in your house. #realtalk

If that is not acceptable to you then stop sending emails of Harry stepping out of the shower to your friends. Just stop. (True story)

Little things add up to you.

I’m praying that your heart will just turn around

I just pray their hearts could be so consumed by the Love of God- this same burning desire to listen to/tweet/facebook/tumblr/instagram Zayn’s (insert object of crush) every word would be replaced by the words of Allah and his Messenger .

Gives “I think We’re Alone Now” a whole new meaning.

This post is not about whether music is halal or haram. Best Song Ever and other subtitles are the names of One Direction songs.

Some good blogs to read:

Here is a man blogs about the need for fathers to sons about Robin Thicke (the man with Miley Cyrus).

Here a mom talks about Miley Cyrus and teaching our daughters about body image.

Here a mom talks to her son about the misogyny in rap music.

This article teaches you how to delete songs off a child’s iPod.

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Hena Zuberi

Hena Zuberi is the Editor in Chief of Muslimmatters.org. She leads the DC office of the human rights organization, Justice For All, focusing on stopping the genocide of the Rohingya under Burma Task Force, advocacy for the Uighur people with the Save Uighur Campaign and Free Kashmir Action. She was a Staff Reporter at the Muslim Link newspaper which serves the DC Metro. Hena has worked as a television news reporter and producer for CNBC Asia and World Television News. Active in her SoCal community, Hena served as the Youth Director for the Unity Center. Using her experience with Youth, she conducts Growing Up With God workshops. hena.z@muslimmatters.org Follow her on Twitter @henazuberi.

44 Comments

Good POV

August 29, 2013 at 10:56 AM

But then how do non-muslims in corporate, science and technology manage to excel inspite of being exposed to such distractions? Muslims kids are always asked to check if the distraction affects their school/job responsibilities? Non-muslims never seem to be fazed or distracted by any of this, be it a minimally clothed colleague, or a girl friend, or other things which muslims label as indecent. Non-muslims always seem to be able to keep focus and complete their allocated tasks in spite of the distractions.

Reply
- Walid
  
  August 29, 2013 at 11:14 AM
  
  It’s important to understand the true Islamic definition of “excel”. I do not think non-muslims excel as much as you claim. Look at the divorce rate in this country…70% divorce rate, their kids are more likely to be promiscuous (go ask any college student), etc. etc. So who really cares if they get an A in Science?!
  
  And the reason why they can “keep focus” is because they are more likely to engage in these “distractions” i.e. party/sex/drink/etc on nights/weekends.
  
  Again, I would not call that “exceling”.
  
  Reply
  - salman
    
    August 29, 2013 at 12:08 PM
    
    Its so true Walid. They excelled in the making money, failing in their life and more importantly the Hereafter.
    
    Reply
    - salman
      
      August 29, 2013 at 12:09 PM
      
      Reminds me of Surah Takathur in the Noble Qur’an.
      
      Reply
- mezaan
  
  August 31, 2013 at 1:57 PM
  
  Yea. I had a similar observation from a friend. This is a post hoc fallacy. You can excel in a domain, but it does not absolve anyone from engaging in deviant behavior nor does it explain why one is successful in science, technology etc. The Pharoah’s were extremely advance nation. They also engaged in slavery, abuse, and all sorts of malice. The Roman’s likewise were the same. They all seemed successful while engaged in deviant behavior. It too bit the dust eventually.
  
  Reply
- Hena Zuberi
  
  September 4, 2013 at 1:04 AM
  
  Good POV Assalam alaykum. First may I request that you use your name or kunyah on MM as it helps you own your thoughts.
  
  Formalities aside. Good parents of any faith check their children for distractions. I have many neighbors and friends who share similar concerns about their children’s upbringing.
  
  When I mentioned an obsession with a crush on a celebrity, that was just good parenting advice and if you spoke to any good counselor they would also suggest the same thing, that if a child become obsessive about something to the point where it start interfering with school or work whether it is a sport, a game, a friend, a hobby then the parent needs to intervene.
  
  Additionally many Muslim children also excel in math and science despite these distractions so please excuse me but I don’t understand your point.
  
  The brothers have already addressed the Islamic values of excellence above so I will not go into that again.
  
  I hope that these points have answered your question.
  
  Reply
Muslim13

August 29, 2013 at 11:03 AM

Salaam,

Good POV, you make an excellent point. Could the writer address this question?

Reply
Walid

August 29, 2013 at 11:09 AM

Great post! I remember my little cousins (ages 8-10) going around saying, “Courvoisier and my 21 inch rims”. Of course copying from some rap song. The sad thing is/was my uncle/aunt had NO idea that “Courvoisier” is a type of alcoholic drink. I believe the “modern lingo” disconnect between 1st gen and 2nd gen “desi” (or any foreign) family is/will cause lots of problems.

Music is the most popular way these shaitanic corporations infiltrate and program youth. I remember growing up (I’m 35), I NEVER remember listening to a “boy band”. Only singers I remember growing up were Bruce Springsteen, Whitney Houston, Tina Turner, Michael Jackson, etc. But this whole idea of “boy bands” didn’t exist. There was no 16 yr old Justin Beiber “singer” etc. Now it’s completely FLIPPED. There are nothing BUT boy bands. All music nowadays are marketed to your kids. When was the last time you saw a 2013 Michael Bolton or Phil Colins?

Warning to parents: PLEASE, PLEASE do what Hena does and look up ALL/EVERY lyric for EVERY song your child mentions. Do not even wait to have them come ask you….you should be asking them! If you hear them singing lyrics to a song ask them what song is that and go look it up! Teach your kids, be patient, patient and more patient.

Once again, great article Hena!

Reply
- Hena Zuberi
  
  September 4, 2013 at 1:08 AM
  
  JazakAllah khayrun for your supportive words. I know you are a very involved father MashaAllah.
  
  I know growing up I think Mickey Mouse Clubhouse for as far as music went marketed directly to children- now little toddlers know lyrics to the most atrocious songs. I can’t imagine what our grandkids will face YIKES.
  
  Reply
hammadanwer

August 29, 2013 at 11:13 AM

Now you know why all forms of music are Haram!!

Reply
- Walid
  
  August 29, 2013 at 11:18 AM
  
  @hammadanwer, Yes to an adult “all forms of music” can be haram. But to a child’s mind, it’s not. A parent MUST be patient and teach the kid as to WHY that particular type of music (mainstream pop music) is not good. TEACH them the WHY. Otherwise, they won’t listen to it at home, but first time they get an opportunity….they’ll listen to it. Educating them is key to LONG term success.
  
  Reply
hammadanwer

August 29, 2013 at 11:16 AM

Allah made music forbidden for reasons.!!!

Reply
- Hena Zuberi
  
  September 4, 2013 at 1:13 AM
  
  Assalamalaykum Hammad,
  JazakAllah Khayr for reading and commenting.
  If that is all you are going to say to a young adult you will not get through to them- they hear the haram word so many times that it has lost its meaning.
  Talk to them so when they have question or are faced with an issue they know they can come to you without fearing the haram police.
  
  Reply
Mohammed

August 29, 2013 at 11:42 AM

A seriously worrying issue that corrupting this generation behind the scene! i’m glad that Sister Hena Zuberi has written this article on most relevant and dangerous issue that leading this generation destruction. unfortunately new parents have no idea about whats happening. If we don’t wake up now one day we will!!!

Reply
- Hena Zuberi
  
  September 4, 2013 at 5:30 PM
  
  JazakAllah khayr for your kind words
  
  Reply
Ali (@Ruh_shu)

August 29, 2013 at 12:34 PM

When angels take the souls of those who die in sin against their souls, they say: “In what (plight) Were ye?” They reply: “Weak and oppressed Were we in the earth.” They say: “Was not the earth of Allah spacious enough for you to move yourselves away (From evil)?” Such men will find their abode in Hell,- What an evil refuge! – An-Nisa Verse No:97

Allah knows best.

Reply
- Hena Zuberi
  
  September 4, 2013 at 1:14 AM
  
  Assalamalaykum wa rahmatulah, JazakAllah khayr for sharing that.
  
  Reply
Ali (@Ruh_shu)

August 29, 2013 at 4:08 PM

Why are u guys refusing to approve my comment in this article. Posted two times already. It a verse of the Qur’an which i think is appropriate for this article. Am i breaking some sort of rule?

Reply
- Aly Balagamwala | DiscoMaulvi
  
  August 30, 2013 at 9:47 AM
  
  Dear Ali
  
  Moderation Team is unfortunately not present 24/7. Often it is once or twice a day that the comments that are stuck in moderation are reviewed. We apologize for the dealy. There was nothing wrong with your comment and it is now approved.
  
  Best Regards
  -Aly
  
  Reply
  - Ali (@Ruh_shu)
    
    August 30, 2013 at 6:08 PM
    
    Jazak Allah Khayr.
    
    Reply
  - Hena Zuberi
    
    September 4, 2013 at 1:15 AM
    
    Aly Bhai- so many duas for all you do for MM.
    
    Reply
Mohammad Syed

August 29, 2013 at 5:37 PM

Excellent post Sister, well written and to the point! As a young Muslim teen male growing up in the west (who also went to Islamic school for the majority of his academic career), it is safe to say to no matter what restrictions you place on your child, whether it be taking your child’s iPhone, blocking cable, moving to a different neighborhood, your child will be exposed to these things regardless. Not saying that these measures are completely useless, as they do have a lot of benefit, but we can’t be the uncle/auntie who lives in a mental bubble thinking their kids are angels in a perfect Islamic environment all the time.

The important thing to note from this article is knowing HOW to approach our kids at these moments. You don’t want to be stereotypical Uncle guy who says “VHAT!!? MUSIC IS CUSSING AND SEX, HARAM!!!” (excuse the extreme example). Rather, be patient and understand where your child is coming from. Do what Br Walid said in the comments “A parent MUST be patient and teach the kid as to WHY that particular type of music (mainstream pop music) is not good. TEACH them the WHY. Otherwise, they won’t listen to it at home, but first time they get an opportunity….they’ll listen to it. Educating them is key to LONG term success”

Subhanallah, I know many kids whose parents had restricted them so much when they were young and never really explained why many of the things they did/listened to were Haram that when they became of age, they went berserk. I remember at one point in my life, I would listen to a LOT of music (Drake, lil wayne, Eminem, etc.), but Alhamdulilah, Allah helped me dropped ALL of that and allowed to focus on better things. Your child will eventually grow out of it, but nevertheless, be patient and teach them the WHY. Jzk.

Reply
- Hena Zuberi
  
  September 4, 2013 at 1:22 AM
  
  Thank you for your wonderful insight. And trust me I am a very involved mom,
  creating the road blocks to open access is important too because children need rules and need to know that there are consequences for breaking the rules. I do believe in tying my camel but also have a very real approach to parenting where I know that my children have souls just as old as mine and they will have their own struggles and will make their own mistakes. I can just be a guide as they navigate this world and keep bringing their moral compass back to the straight path.
  
  Reply
Kirana

August 29, 2013 at 7:47 PM

This is a pretty good article.

I tend to be in favour of parental controls, but I think we should remember that its aim is not to completely insulate the children from the world – because eventually they grow up and have to enter it. Rather its aim is merely to limit the influx so that the bulk of images and habits that build up are positive rather than habituating the children’s growing brains to addictive and unhealthy neural pathways when they have not yet the control developed to resist it. That influx is a tsunami today; the mainstream culture does not hold back to protect children’s and teens’ development years nearly as much as it used to.

But in order to develop parental controls, parents need to understand what is in popular culture, and that you can’t really simplistically draw a line with a marker pen and say, this group of stuff is all bad, this group of stuff is ok. I’m shocked that so many parents don’t actually know pretty basic things like Ke$ha concerts are not child-friendly – I mean, no duh!

In the long term, it is better for the child to have developed a core set of ethics to keep away from big stuff, even if they may listen to some music or make some mistakes or whatever that isn’t totally legit, but went through the experience of weaning away from it (this may be well into adulthood) – that experience of judgment, choice, responsibility and willpower is invaluable, and may never be learned if the child is never exposed to the possibility of error. Over-protectiveness creates people who assume that their religious adherence is the responsibility of other people or external conditions, and who are unable to have the empathy, wisdom and sense of timing to deal with moral gray areas they will encounter in life. Ironically this insular focus on ‘correctness’ actually renders them unable to contribute positivity to the culture. Nobody listens to advice from someone who obviously has no idea what any kind of life experience and the human emotional response is like.

OR, it produces people who just suddenly go off the rails when they suddenly have to enter the real world (and they will have to), because they never were coached through the thought process for working out which things are Bad Ideas and why. if they survive that phase without dying, trapped in substance abuse, being jailed, contracting incurable diseases, damaging other people’s lives, or killing their illegitimate baby, then – by God’s grace – the experience may be good for them without too high a cost. but note the operative word “IF”. i think parents should NOT set their children up to fail like that, no matter what good intentions they may have for protectiveness.

Reply
- Hena Zuberi
  
  September 4, 2013 at 1:26 AM
  
  I’ll take pretty good ;)
  Thanks for the awesome comment. Like my good friend says hold on tight but let them breathe.
  
  Reply
Muhammad Siddique

August 30, 2013 at 6:34 PM

Assalamualaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh

As a 23 year old Indian muslim reading this from UAE …..I must say my head begun to ache as i read through the first few lines. As someone who was born and raised in the gulf, its very very difficult for me to comprehend the lifestyle of muslims living in the west.

And its suffocating to see how easily Muslim parents are losing their children to the satanic western culture . SOmetimes i wish i could wrap up every muslim living there in a huge bundle and bring them all here.
Can someone please explain to me Why the western muslims don’t even try to make hijrah to muslim lands ??

Reply
- Walid
  
  August 30, 2013 at 7:26 PM
  
  If you are an Indian muslim living in UAE…you must be oblivious to how the “Kings/Princes” live in Gulf countries. The amount of “satanic culture” that they imitate makes the west look good. I’m not saying ALL of them..but surely some of them.
  
  The point isn’t to make “hijrah” anywhere, THIS (America) IS our home. Born and raised. We need to learn that we cannot “run from our problems”. Learn to educate ourselves and raise our kids with dignity. That does NOT mean once they are 18 THEN teach them…NO. That means every single waking minute from the day they are born until they are well beyond the age of reason.
  
  Reply
- ZAI
  
  September 1, 2013 at 12:43 AM
  
  It’s not that easy for all of us Brother.
  
  #1 Many of us are from lands ravaged by intense oppression, war, or poverty. My parents are from
  Afghanistan for instance. We cannot go back.
  
  #2 As for “Muslim” countries aside from our ethnic homelands…well brother, most Muslim nations have racist citizenship policies. They will not let us immigrate. Once the iqamah(work permit) runs out, where are those of us who can’t go back to our homelands supposed to go? Add to that we’d be treated like 2nd class citizens with no protections or rights.
  
  It’s not as simple as you make it sound.
  
  Reply
- Hena Zuberi
  
  September 4, 2013 at 1:45 AM
  
  Assalam ‘alaykum Br Muhammad,
  
  Which emirate in the UAE do you live in? Born and raised in the Gulf and you never heard pop music or rap? It plays in every mega mall there. If you haven’t, you truly must be blessed.
  
  This false dichotomy of East vs West is perpetuated and I don’t agree with it. The same cable channels play in homes there as they do here- (side note) at least we have parental controls here; I know my cousins who live in Dubai do not have any parental controls on TV.
  
  Perhaps you can acknowledge that kids there listen to the same stuff and share how you and your family was saved from the effects of the satanic culture.
  
  Reply
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Good POV

August 31, 2013 at 5:35 PM

Thanks mezzan….your point makes sense….

Reply
RCHOUDH

September 3, 2013 at 4:02 PM

Assalamu alaikum,

Great article mash’Allah and one that’s worth spreading around! I pray that all the Muslims currently absorbed within the world’s entertainment industries (Hollywood/Bollywood/etc) are able to get out before completely destroying their souls and chance for salvation in the Hereafter. After thinking about what perils await those who enter such industries, I can’t help but feel like all the widespread fame, riches, and glory can’t possibly make up for all the depression, anxiety, fear, and misplaced love of the Dunya that becoming a world-renowned entertainer entails.

Reply
RCHOUDH

September 3, 2013 at 4:02 PM

I have a question now related to this article in regards to obsessed fans. While hopefully In sha Allah most of these kids will someday grow up and out of such teenage obsessions, what if you had a daughter/son who seemed particularly obsessed about their favorite celebrity and who behaved similarly to those fans spoken about in that documentary linked above? Could simply forcing them to stay away from any coverage re: their favorite celebrity be enough to stop them from obsessing over it or should some more things be done? I realize that as Muslims we should also teach them how to cleanse their heart of the Dunya (through perfecting their ibadah constantly) and return to Allah. I’m also wondering though if a handful of them will still also need special psychiatric care to overcome their addiction/obsession? Thanks and I look forward to hearing from anyone about this matter!

Reply
Hena Zuberi

September 4, 2013 at 2:09 AM

Assalam alaykum wa rahmatulah,

They may. This is what I read from a professional counselor:

“It is only by internalizing socially appropriate rules, due to the admonishments of his/her parents and other authority figures, that the child learns the acceptable norms for thinking, feeling, living and interacting.

Of course no culture or parent is perfect, nor can any parent offer the exact conditions that a growing child needs to feel completely fulfilled, so there is bound to be friction as he begins asserting himself as a separate being. The ways that parents and other authority figures deal with this friction has a great deal to do with whether a child develops a character neurosis. In general terms, we usually find that safe, loving, happy environments where the rules are clearly defined and the child is given freedom to be himself within those rules is fertile soil for healthy development and functioning. When a child knows that he is loved, is given the opportunity to express his true nature and try on many ways of being, and has predictable and fair consequences for going outside of agreed upon rules the outcomes are generally positive.

On the other hand, a hostile, scary, uncertain environment where rules are not clearly defined and a child is not given free room to develop his real self is fertile soil for the creation of a character neurosis. In this setting a person starts to repress who he really is because of the tremendous anxiety present. He receives mixed signals on which thoughts, emotions, and behaviors will offer the highest levels of safety and security, and unconsciously decides upon a plan to try to make his environment seem more stable. Many character traits, abilities, ways of seeing the world, and emotions fall by the wayside as a person decides upon a compulsive way of living. Most people have their own neuroses to one degree or another because the environment in which a person grows up can never perfectly match that person’s needs and constitution.

Whether a neurosis develops or not, being a fan is a great way to project unwanted or unrecognized characteristics onto another entity while getting to express many emotions, usually felt as dangerous, in a socially sanctioned environment. ”

Until it becomes borderline pathological or intense-personal and then counseling is recommended.

Allah knows best.

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- RCHOUDH
  
  September 4, 2013 at 4:55 AM
  
  Wa alaikum salaam wr wb,
  Jazakillah ul khair for your answer Sister Hena!
  
  Reply
Afzaly

September 4, 2013 at 5:40 AM

Im a teen, and i like One Direction. Especially Zayn Malik! i want to know, what is wrong in having a celebrity crush? plus, anyone can be a muslim but only a couple can be believers.

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- ashrafh
  
  September 5, 2013 at 8:14 PM
  
  @Afzaly, the guy has a girlfriend–do you know what that means? It means he has had relations with this girl, and probably numerous other women. I find it despicable that you don’t find that repulsive, and still are crushing on this guy. If you don’t have respect for our deen, then at least have some respect for yourself. You are better than this person and you don’t need him or his fornicating ilk.
  
  The kuffar are so hypocritical. When a person wants polygamy in marriage, then all hell breaks loose. But when a guy like Zayn has a girlfriend, these infatuated girls don’t mind him having multiple girlfriends if they can be one of the gfs…
  
  Reply
- gunal
  
  September 6, 2013 at 12:04 PM
  
  Afzaly and Good Pov, I understand where you two are coming from. Someone earlier used the term ‘Mental Bubble’. I think if anyone ignores or rejects your comments they must be such people (with a mental bubble that everything can be and will be controlled). Perhaps for those people it will. Through genuine understanding of the problem, and through vigorous praying, only then they can find guidance and help from God.
  
  The reality for the rest of us; media makes people how to think, how to feel and how to behave. Whether Muslim or non-Muslim a young human brain is very susceptible to media advertising. Music is a powerful tool in advertising by itself. Different melodies instigate different moods. Musicians study this and use these effects to benefit themselves. Unless you are a ‘strong’ believer there is no way you can realise how and in what ways others controlling those emotions (your emotions). You are not in control of that love towards a girl/boy band for eg.
  
  Hena Zuberi’s comment made on 4th Sep. Outlines conditions for good and bad upbringing. All of which are common sense in my opinion. I am hoping that everyone will agree on that… Common sense right? Then please tell me why “uncertain environment where rules are not clearly defined” (Hena Zuberi’s comment 4th Sep.) are still allowed by any society (regardless of Muslim or non-Muslim societies)? Can no one realise “Don’t do as you see it but do as I tell you” is the current message out there. It is a messed up message. I cannot justify to my child when I say no one is allowed to swear, yet we allow successful music companies allow to make music with swearing in them. They are the celebrated individuals of our society. Our children look up to them. We look up to them for our flourishing economy?
  
  Someone earlier asked a question –so much changed from my childhood to now I wonder what it will be like for our grandchildren? Well! I can say that my grandchildren will not have much luck! I cannot do this on my own. I cannot take the media on by myself. And with people on MM blaming me for not controlling, not being patient, not properly understanding my kid, I sure can see where this is all going with my kid let alone worry about my grand kids.
  
  I am not so lucky as some of you who are able to send their children to Islamic school. However, I don’t think the Islamic schooling matters much. Because, Christians once upon a time were not allowed girlfriends (sex outside marriage). I feel today’s Christians are the product of a society where rules/common sense environments are ignored; Rules are not clearly defined and been confused by people who doesn’t give a toot about rules – it is okay to play with children’s emotions as long as they make money out of so called music. I am angry to read that I will be blamed when my child doesn’t turn out right but no one is pointing any fingers to the wrongness of the society in general. More importantly; not done anything about THEM. Without them nothing will ever change. Parents can’t do this alone! Come out of your bubble!
  
  Reply
  - RCHOUDH
    
    September 9, 2013 at 2:45 AM
    
    Gunal,
    
    I agree with you so much re: society’s massive influence upon our children. I also hate when people are quick to blame parents for how their kids turn out, as if to say that if only the parents had “turned off the TV” kids wouldn’t be getting such terrible messages from the greater pop cultural landscape. What they don’t want to realize or admit though, is that these messages are so pervasive nowadays that even if you’re able to completely control every single media device within your own home (a feat that gets harder and harder to do as kids get older and as media technology evolves) you can never completely shield your kids from being influenced once they step outside the home (and this goes for every part of the world now, not just the West).
    The only things we can do right now as parents is keep doing our best to shield our kids from the media’s influence inside our homes, as well as try to educate other members of society about how damaging such media influences are, not only for ourselves but for the greater society. Teach people how to critique the racist, sexist, misogynistic, classist messages brought forth by these images. We also have to make these billion-dollar industries accountable for what they do. Here’s a really good article from The Guardian about this new disturbing phenomenon about the media’s influence upon today’s teenagers: http://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/sep/08/beeban-kidron-inreallife-interview-teenagers
    
    Reply
    - gunal
      
      September 9, 2013 at 8:56 AM
      
      Thank you RCHOUDH. Wow! (The streets of London!) I know how easy for my son to get exposed to those harsh absurdity. He, probably, has seen and heard quite a lot of it already.
      
      Reply
      - RCHOUDH
        
        September 10, 2013 at 5:13 AM
        
        You’re welcome gunal!
Hyde

September 21, 2013 at 12:46 PM

This is the difference between men and women. No man, especially a practicing Muslim man or even a boy would ever say [openly] that he has a celebrity crush on any of these “famous stars”.

I just say Nicki Minaj latest video. Did not know who she was, but after watching the latest video, I can honestly say there is so much occultish satanic overtones that it is difficult to to even listen to her gibberish nonsense. This is NOT music anymore. There is a reason in the year 2013, “a muslim” is a lead singer of a boy band.

Keep believing in serendipity folks, until it catches up to you.

(Ironically all these young girls that are manipulated into listening to these songs and wasting their childhood become ardent feminist down the path and want to change the mosques and whatnot)

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- mahmoud
  
  September 23, 2013 at 9:09 AM
  
  @Hyde, you nailed it
  
  Reply
Brenda G.

June 10, 2016 at 9:01 AM

I like another song by Ke$ha “Animal” http://lyricsmusic.name/ke-ha-lyrics/animal/ from Lipsha album

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