Protection of the New Generation, Personality Development and Character Building: A Contemporary Study in the Light of the Teachings of the Qur’an and the Prophetic Sīrah

نسلِ نو کا تحفظ، تعمیرِ شخصیت اور کردار سازی: تعلیماتِ قرآن اور سیرتِ نبوی ﷺ کی روشنی میں عصری مطالعہ

Abstract

The younger generation constitutes the intellectual, moral, social, and developmental strength of every society, and its proper education and character formation play a decisive role in determining the future direction of nations. In contemporary society, young people are confronted with a wide range of intellectual, moral, educational, socio-economic, cultural, and technological challenges. The rapid expansion of digital media, unrestricted access to online content, weakening family interaction, materialistic tendencies, unemployment, educational inequalities, cultural alienation, and declining moral values have significantly influenced the attitudes, priorities, and behavioural patterns of the younger generation. Against this background, the present study examines the protection, personality development, and character building of the new generation in the light of the teachings of the Qur’an and the Prophetic Sīrah. The study primarily employs descriptive and analytical approaches to identify the fundamental Qur’anic principles of youth development and to examine the practical methodology adopted by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in educating and training young people. It argues that the Islamic model of character building is comprehensive and does not confine education to the transmission of information. Rather, it integrates sound faith, worship, righteous conduct, knowledge, moral excellence, modesty, self-discipline, patience, perseverance, social responsibility, and consciousness of accountability. The Prophetic Sīrah demonstrates that young people were educated through wisdom, compassion, dialogue, trust, personal example, and the delegation of meaningful responsibilities. The study also analyses major contemporary challenges affecting youth and highlights the complementary responsibilities of parents, teachers, educational institutions, religious organizations, society, and the state. It concludes that sustainable protection of the younger generation requires a preventive, constructive, and integrated educational framework rooted in the Qur’anic worldview and the Prophetic model of personality formation.