Prophetic Wisdom - Generation Gap

From: http://www.islamicity.com/

By: Sadullah Khan

"That person is not of us ... the elder who has no compassion for the young and the young who has no respect for the elder." - Prophet Muhammad

The Generation Gap is a continual source of pain and confusion for every successive generation and is often seen as the difficulties and struggles represented in the attitudes and experiences of people of differing ages who share the same time span.

The Generation Gap occurs when older and younger people do not understand each other. This is brought about because there arises a lack of communication between one generation and another, especially between young people and their parents, who may have different perspectives, tastes, outlook, ...

Prophetic Example of Bridging the Generational Gap:
Our beloved Prophet announced prophet-hood at the age of forty and therefore, it is well-known that a sizable majority of his companions were much younger than him.
Throughout the Prophet's life, he maintained a most perfect balance between appreciating and respecting the wisdom and the experience of the elder companions such as Khadijah and Abu Bakr as-Siddiq at the same time appreciating and respecting the dynamism and the sharp insights of the younger companions such as Ali ibn Talib, 'Aishah and Abdullah ibn Abbas.

The beloved Prophet led by example when he kissed his grandchildren at a time in Arabia when such intimacy was not common. We learn from Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) that, Allah's Apostle kissed Al-Hasan bin Ali while Al-Aqra' bin Habis At-Tamim was sitting beside him. Al-Aqra said, "I have ten children and I have never kissed anyone of them." Allah's Apostle cast a look at him and said, "Whoever is not merciful to others will not be treated mercifully."

Sadullah Khan is the Director of Islamic Center of Irvine. He has presented lectures on Islamic Civilization at California State University at Dominguez Hills. He is a frequent lecturer for the Academy of Judaic, Christian and Islamic Studies at UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles). He is also an advisor to the Chancellor's Committee on Religion Ethics and Values at UCLA and serves as Director of Muslim Affairs at USC (University of Southern California).
You can watch his lectures on Empowerment and Hadith of the Day at IslamiTV

Dimensions of the QuranThe lucid and clear reflections of Sa'dullah Khan, his smooth sailing in the oceans of Quranic wisdom and beauty is most encouraging and pleasantly inviting the English reader of the Quran to plunge again into the ultimate source of enlightenment and empowerment that we have.
Click Here to Buy

About Sadullah Khan
Completed Memorization of the Holy Qur’an at the age of 8.
Completed schooling at St. Paul’s Catholic Primary School in Cape Town and at Lenasia Senior Secondary School in Johannesburg.
Attained a Bachelor of Arts Law Degree at University of Durban-Westville, Sub-Majoring in Islamic Studies and Arabic.
Completed a Higher Diploma in Journalism through Trans-World College in Jersey, UK.
Pursued further studies in Qur’anic Sciences at Al-Azhar in Cairo, Egypt (1986-1990).
Completed Post-Graduate programs on Methodology of Presentation of Islam as well as on Comparative Religion at Al-Azhar.
Studied Arabic at the International Language Institute in Cairo.
Lectured in Comparative Religious Studies, Islamic Civilization and Qur’anic Sciences at Tertiary Level in South Africa (1990-1998).
Editor of the first national Muslim newspaper in South Africa, Muslim Views (1994-1998).
Presenter of weekly programs on Understanding Islam and Dimensions of the Qur’an on Radio Voice of the Cape and Radio 786.
The Dimensions of the Qur’an has been published in book form in the United States (1999) and in South Africa (2000).
Served as Director of the Gatesville Islamic Center in Cape Town (1990-1998).
Served as Head of Department of Qur’anic Sciences at the Islamic College of Southern Africa (1990-98).
Presented papers at numerous Islamic and inter-faith conferences throughout the world - including Botswana (1983), Sierra Leone (1984), Nigeria (1984), Iran (1985), Egypt (1987), Malaysia (1993), Belgium (1997), USA (1998), Hawaii (1999), and Turkey (2000).
Currently serves as the Director of Muslim Affairs at the University of Southern California, (USC).
Currently serves on the University Religious Conference Executive Board at the University of California Los Angeles, (UCLA).
Currently serves on the Chancellor’s Committee Advisor on Religion, Ethics and Values at the University of California Los Angeles, (UCLA).
Currently lectures on Islam for the Academy of Judaic, Christian and Islamic Studies at the University of California Los Angeles, (UCLA).
Currently lectures on Islamic Civilization at Cal-State Dominguez Hills University, (CSUDH). He also presents a 3-hour weekly TV program from CSUDH on Islamic Civilization.
Currently serves as the Director of Religious Affairs at the Islamic Center of Irvine, (ICOI).