Immunizing Youth Against Extremist Ideology: A Purposeful Necessity

This study, through its sharia objective (Maqasid) analysis, presents a holistic view to understand the terrorist ideology in order to immunize the youth against it. By using the analytical scientific approach, which is based on the derivation and deduction of information from its primary sources, the author addresses the following issues: Firstly, the contradiction of the terrorist thoughts and beliefs with the objectives of sharia provided by the five schools of Islamic Jurisprudence. Secondly, the various reasons and motives for terrorist thoughts (social, educational, religious, cultural, economic) which facilitate the committing of terrorist acts. Thirdly, the various means to immunize the youth against terrorist thought, including: a warm and appropriate family life, which in turn protects the children from strange violent beliefs, as well as providing support, warmth and ongoing companionship to the child within the family; educational institutions should immunize young people against any terrorist thought through choosing qualified teachers and focusing on the content of the curricula as well as making the role of the school effective in community service.