By Ahmad Shuaibu Isa
Introduction
Western winds sweep through ancient land,
Traditions slip like grains of sand.
Chasing lights with blinded eyes,
Wisdom lost beneath the guise.
Roots forgotten, we wear new skies.
Across Nigeria—and increasingly, in many parts of the world—a quiet yet deeply troubling moral crisis is taking root. This crisis is not just about poverty or political instability, but a much deeper erosion of values, identity, and spiritual awareness. Among the youth especially, there is a rising tide of vulgar language, shameless behaviour, and intellectual confusion. In once-honourable cities like Kano, Katsina, and Zaria, words such as “Dan shegiya” and “Dan Mai c**n uwarka”—phrases once unutterable in public—are now spoken casually and even celebrated online.
This shift didn’t happen by chance. It stems from unfiltered exposure to destructive influences, neglect in the home, and a misuse of religious authority by those lacking discernment. At its heart lies a broken connection between sound values, honest thinking, and the guiding force of reasoned faith or just laws.
The Decline Begins at Home
The earliest breakdown occurs within the family. Many parents, though religious in appearance, live in contradiction—cheating, lying, or endorsing immoral content. Children pick up on these hypocrisies and lose faith in what they’re told is “right.” Without sincere guidance, they seek identity through rebellion, shallow fame, or empty digital noise.
The culture has shifted from modesty to mockery. Kunya (shame) has been replaced with “cruise” culture—where vulgarity is cool and respect is ridiculed. Social media now shapes young minds more than families or faith communities do. In such a world, reverence for elders, scholars, and religion is buried under sarcasm and status-seeking.
Westernization Without Wisdom
Global exposure can inspire—but without context, it can corrupt. Today’s youth often mimic foreign lifestyles and media, blind to the values behind them. In the digital space, crude humour, sexual content, and attacks on religion thrive. Many influencers, lacking moral integrity, now act as spiritual guides. Instead of guiding toward truth, they lead into confusion.
This creates a split life—youth attend Friday prayers or Sunday services, then post profane jokes or vulgar videos hours later. Faith becomes performance. Morality becomes personal choice. Sincerity is replaced by showmanship.
Performative Piety and Hidden Arrogance
Many young religious figures today use faith as a platform not for healing, but for pride. Their preaching often includes sarcasm, personal attacks, and public shaming—disguised as “correction.” Behind their pious quotes lie envy, insecurity, and a hunger for relevance—not genuine reform.
Islam calls for humility, wisdom, and personal purification before preaching to others. Reform without inner discipline is not faith—it’s theatre.
Religious Leadership Without Discernment
Even sincere leaders are not exempt. Some are surrounded by followers who whisper lies, driven by jealousy or the thirst for power. These leaders, misled by false loyalty, sometimes make harmful decisions—attacking the innocent, protecting the guilty, and sowing division in the name of righteousness.
True spiritual leadership requires more than good intentions. It demands insight, self-awareness, and the courage to question even those closest to you.
The Balance of Faith and Thought
Faith must be paired with thoughtful reflection. Both Sunni and Shia traditions present Islam as a complete system—spiritual, legal, and intellectual. Islam encourages debate, reason, and justice. The same goes for true Christianity and honest secular law: all are meant to protect truth and dignity.
When religion is used to suppress thought—or when freedom lacks moral direction—both faith and society crumble.
The Price of Moral Confusion
A generation raised in contradiction pays a high price:
Faith becomes shallow—a badge, not a belief.
Speech becomes violent—words wound and divide.
Culture becomes noise—empty trends replace tradition.
Leadership loses its weight—no one is trusted.
In such a world, envy replaces truth, and lies are louder than wisdom.
A Road to Renewal
Reclaiming this generation requires bold, honest steps:
Model Integrity at Home – Children copy actions, not words.
Equip Leaders With Critical Thinking – Faith without reflection breeds fanaticism.
Elevate the Media Space – Promote voices of reason and filter out the noise.
Teach Religion as Purpose, Not Power – Let faith guide, not control.
Encourage Honest Advisors – Leaders need truth-tellers, not flatterers.
Conclusion: Choose Decay or Renewal
We stand at a crossroads. One path leads deeper into chaos—where youth lose their purpose, religion is weaponized, and truth is buried under noise. The other path demands courage: to return to values rooted in faith, sharpened by reason, and protected by justice.
True moral leadership—whether as parents, scholars, or citizens—requires not just faith, but vigilance; not just preaching, but practice; not just followers, but thinkers.
Let us restore our homes, reform our pulpits, and rebuild a generation that is both spiritually grounded and intellectually awake.
The time to rebuild is now—before we lose not just our youth, but the soul of our society.
Ahmad Shuaibu Isa [email protected]