Every Young Person Has an Energy: How Do You Discover It and Put It in Its Right Place?

Allah, the Exalted, created every person with abilities and energies that distinguish him from others; no young person is without a talent or ability, though these energies differ from one person to another. Some excel in knowledge, some stand out in leadership, and others are skilled in Da'wah, technology, handiwork, or serving people.

From this standpoint, an educator's task is not to create a new character, but to help a young person discover the abilities Allah has placed within him, then direct them toward what benefits him in his religion and his worldly life. Successful Tarbiyah does not mean that all children turn out alike; it means that each of them finds the path suited to him, and invests his energy in what benefits himself and his society.

• Why do young people differ in their talents and abilities?

• How do we discover children's energies?

• How did the Prophet ﷺ direct those with talents?

• Practical steps to develop young people's abilities

The Difference in Abilities Is One of Allah's Established Ways

Among Allah's mercies toward His servants is that He did not make people a single mold; rather, He distributed talents and abilities among them, so that they complement one another.

For this reason, it is a mistake to compare children with one another, or to try to make everyone follow the same path. Not every academically outstanding student is suited to leadership, and not every socially outgoing person succeeds in scientific research; creativity may appear in many different fields, varying from one person to another.

The more an educator recognizes this diversity, the more capable he becomes of discovering his children's points of strength, instead of focusing only on what they lack.

How Do We Discover Young People's Energies?

Discovering a talent does not require complex methods; it begins with observation and attention.

An educator who spends time with his children, listens to them, and watches what they love can discover what attracts them, what they excel at, and what gives them the enthusiasm to keep going.

Giving a young person the chance to try different fields also helps his true abilities emerge, for he may not discover his talent until he goes through a new experience or takes on a responsibility he had not had before.

For this reason, an educator should not rush to judge a young person's abilities, but should give him enough time to discover himself.

The Prophetic Methodology in Directing Talents

The Prophet ﷺ looked at his Companions with the eye of an educator who knew each one's abilities, and directed him to the field suited to him.

When he saw in Zayd ibn Thabit, may Allah be pleased with him, quickness of memorization and intelligence, he directed him to learn writing and the languages of other nations, and Zayd became one of the scribes of revelation and among the most prominent scholars among the Companions.

He saw in Hassan ibn Thabit, may Allah be pleased with him, a talent for poetry, and encouraged him to employ it in defending Islam, so that his words became a weapon serving the cause of Da'wah.

The Prophet ﷺ also steered some of his Companions away from tasks that did not suit their abilities, out of mercy toward them and in preservation of the Muslims' interests, for correct guidance is not deprivation, but placing each person where he can succeed and fulfill his mission in the best possible way.

Practical Steps to Develop Talent

An educator can help his children discover their abilities through a number of practical steps, including:

1. Attentive Listening

Listen to the young person's interests, and ask him what he loves to learn or accomplish, for these conversations often reveal his true inclinations.

2. Diversifying Experiences

Encourage your children to take part in various activities, such as volunteer work, scientific programs, and sports and cultural activities, for experience is among the best means of discovering talent.

3. Providing an Encouraging Environment

An environment filled with comparisons or mockery may extinguish a talent before it grows, while words of encouragement and the opportunity to try help bring out the best in a young person.

4. Granting Responsibility

Assign the young person tasks suited to his age and abilities, then observe his performance and encourage his development, for talent grows through practice, not merely through talking about it.

Put Every Energy in Its Right Place

A young person may possess a great talent, yet it is wasted if he is directed toward a field that does not suit him.

For this reason, an educator should not impose his own personal choices on his children, nor make his own preferences the sole standard in determining their future; rather, he should help them discover the fields in which they excel, while guiding them toward what aligns with Islamic values and brings them true benefit.

When a person works in what he is good at, he becomes more creative and skilled, and can offer his society a far greater contribution.

The Educator's Role in Building Confidence

A young person may discover his talent, yet hesitate to develop it out of fear of failure or criticism.

Here comes the educator's role in instilling confidence, encouraging him to learn and try, and correcting mistakes without discouragement or belittling him.

A single sincere word of encouragement may be the cause that sets a great talent in motion, just as a discouraging word may bury an ability that could have benefited its owner and his Ummah.

Discovering young people's energies is among the greatest expressions of Tarbiyah, because it helps every young person know his points of strength and invest them in what pleases Allah and benefits people.

The successful educator does not seek to make all his children alike, but works to discover what distinguishes each one of them, then directs him to the path suited to him, just as the Prophet ﷺ did with his Companions.

Let us be diligent in looking at our children with an eye that discovers potential before focusing on mistakes, and in giving them opportunities to learn and to try, so that their talents may grow, and they may become righteous individuals who contribute to building themselves, their families, and their society.