Ali Ibn Abu Talib (RA) was the young cousin of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW). He was greatly admired by the Prophet (SAW) and grew into a noble warrior for Islam, a knowledgeable judge, a haafidh of Quran and one of the righteous Khulafa of the Muslims. He accepted Islam at the age of eight and was instrumental in the spread of Islam and a vanguard of the Deen of Allah (SWT).

Usama bin Zayd (RA) was said to be 19 years of age when the Prophet (SAW) appointed him as an army commander. Soon before the Messenger (SAW) passed away, he insisted on Usama leading the army of the Muslims in battle saying “Usama is as qualified to lead you in battle as his father led you in battle.”

It was narrated from Ibn Mas’ood that the Prophet (SAW) said: “The son of Adam will not be dismissed from before his Lord on the Day of Resurrection until he has been questioned about five things: his life and how he spent it, his youth and how he used it, his wealth and how he earned it and how he disposed of it, and how he acted upon what he acquired of knowledge.” [Tirmidhi]

There is no doubt that the youth are some of the most valuable individuals in the Ummah due to their energetic nature. History attests to the fact that they are the most enthusiastic to work hard and affect change in the world. In the Hadith narrated by Abu Hurayrah in Sahih Al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, the Messenger of Allah (SAW) has listed seven kinds of people who will be sheltered under the shade of Allah on the Day of Judgment, one of them being “a young man who passed his youth in the worship and service of Allah.”

Take a look at the ages of the closest companions of the Prophet (SAW); they were the helpers of the Deen and are those whom we should aspire to be like; many of them listed below were 25 and under when they accepted Islam:

Ali (8), Abu Ubaydah (27), Azzubair (18), Talhah (11), Saad ibn Abiwaqqaas (17), Ibn Masood (14), Al Arqam ibn abil, Arqam (12), Saed ib Zayd (19), Zayd ibn Haritha (20), Jafar ibn Abi Taalib (18), Khabaab ibnul Arrat (20), Zayd ibn Thaabit approx (20), Aamir, ibn Fuhayra (23), Musab ibn, Umair (24), Almiqdad ibnul Aswad (24).
May Allah be pleased with them.

To the youth of the Ummah, this is an opportunity that will only come once in your life so do not waste it. Take advantage of your youth and spend your time wisely in the service of Allah (SWT), lest you waste it running away from responsibility and chasing the temptations of this life. Use your time wisely to fuel your learning of the Deen and to drive you to share that knowledge with your fellow brothers and sisters.

It was narrated by Ibn Abbas and reported by Al Hakim that the Prophet (SAW) advised to:

“Take benefit of five before five: Your youth before your old age, your health before your sickness, your wealth before your poverty, your free time before you are preoccupied, and your life before your death.”