The Youth Crisis | Ustadh Alhassan Umar | The Hidden Gems Episode #3

How does a kid from the South Bronx end up memorizing Quran in Ghana and spend the next decade helping guide the youth? Welcome to another episode of The Hidden Gems Podcast. In this episode we sit down with our beloved Ustadh Alhassan Umar and dive into the real problems plaguing young Muslims today — and the solutions. Ustadh Alhassan Umar is an Imam, chaplain, youth director, and poet. Originally from Ghana and raised in the South Bronx, he went back to Ghana at 13 to memorize Quran and study Islam. He has spent over a decade working with youth across schools, after-school programs, and prisons. In this conversation we cover the identity crisis plaguing Muslim Youth, doom scrolling and addictions, and the parenting gaps that shape it all. 💎 Support the Da'wah If you found value in this episode, please help us grow: Like this video to help others find it. Subscribe and hit the 🔔 icon for more "Hidden Gems." Share this with someone who is struggling, or a parent raising youth in the West. Keep us in your Du'a as we strive to bring more beneficial content to the Ummah. #hiddengemspodcast #muslimyouth #islamicpodcast #muslimparents #islamicpodcast #quran Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 0:38 Who is Al Hassan Omar? 1:01 From the Bronx to Ghana: Memorizing Quran 3:04 Sent Back at 13: The Identity Struggle 7:45 Two Selves: Home vs. Outside 14:10 Why Work With the Youth 19:00 Suffering in Silence 20:41 The Root of the Problem: Parents & Communication 27:40 The Hollowness: Feeling Distant From Allah 34:12 You Are What You Consume: Lowering the Gaze 40:45 Unrestricted Access: Phones, School & Haram 46:02 Reflecting on Death as Real Motivation 55:50 The Weight of Being a Parent 1:06:19 Lead by Example: Parents as First Role Models 1:15:08 Choosing the Right Spouse 1:18:07 Work on Yourself, Stop Trying to "Fix" People 1:21:50 Spoken Word: "1,000 lbs"