Abdel Halim bin Samaya argues that modern media consumption among youth marks a departure from traditional masculine engagement with societal challenges. According to this perspective, platforms ranging from cartoons and television series to films have redirected the focus of young individuals away from civilizational struggle. The author contends that this shift prioritizes hedonism over the collective duties historically associated with the development of the community. These media forms allegedly serve as primary drivers in reshaping how youth perceive their roles and responsibilities within society. By emphasizing personal entertainment and individual gratification, the current media environment displaces the historical emphasis on public service and resilience. Abdel Halim bin Samaya identifies these content categories as central to the erosion of traditional masculine ideals among the younger generation. The author explicitly claims that modern media, including cartoons, series, and films, has shifted youth focus from civilizational struggle to hedonism, thereby undermining the foundational values necessary for a strong society.
Historical Standards of Manhood
Sheikh Abdel Halim bin Samaya, who passed away in 1933, addressed the requirements of masculine conduct during his lifetime. When a young man approached him to inquire about the prohibition of gold for men, the scholar replied, "عندما تكونون رجالا، يُحرم عليكم الذهب!" This response prioritized the internal development of manhood as a prerequisite for the application of such religious restrictions. Indeed, Sheikh Abdel Halim bin Samaya once told a young man who asked about the prohibition of gold for men: "When you become men, gold will be forbidden to you." This assertion shows his belief that the external manifestations of piety and the adherence to specific prohibitions are secondary to the cultivation of an essential, internal sense of masculine responsibility.
Historical directives from Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab further established expectations for male conduct within the administration of the early community. Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab issued instructions to his governors specifically urging them to avoid the luxury common among non-Arabs. He maintained that these officials must preserve physical toughness and resist the influence of foreign opulence to ensure their focus remained on governance and public duty. The author references a historical directive from Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab urging his governors to avoid the luxury of non-Arabs and to maintain physical toughness, illustrating that the preservation of masculine character was considered a vital component of successful leadership and administrative integrity.
The author also references a Hadith narrated by Ibn Abbas regarding the distinct roles assigned to men and women. According to this account, the Prophet Muhammad addressed the boundaries of gender expression and social conduct. Ibn Abbas reported: "لعن النبيّ -صلّى الله عليه وسلّم- المخنّثين من الرّجال، والمترجّلات من النّساء، وقال: أخرجوهم من بيوتكم" This directive emphasized the maintenance of traditional distinctions between the sexes within the domestic sphere. The author cites a Hadith narrated by Ibn Abbas stating that the Prophet Muhammad cursed men who imitate women and women who imitate men. These historical accounts serve as benchmarks for the expectations that defined masculinity prior to the current shifts in youth behavior, reinforcing the argument that modern social fluidity is incompatible with traditional standards.
