118: Dealing with the Generation Gap
[b]ليس منا من لم يرحم صغيرنا و لم يعرف شرف كبيرنا [/b]
[i]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.[/i][b][Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)] [/b]
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 live sat the same time.
[b]The Generation Gap occurs when [/b][list]
[*]older and younger people do not understand each other because of their [/*]
[*]there arises a lack of communication between one generation and another,especially between young people and their parents, brought about by differences of perspectives, tastes, outlook, … [/*][/list]
[b]Prophetic Example of Bridging the Generational Gap[/b]
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 lived experience of the elder companions such as Khadijah / Abu Bakr as-Siddiq and appreciating and respecting the dynamism and the sharp insights of the younger companions such as Ali ibn Talib / ‘Aishah /Abdullah ibn Abbas.
1.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."”