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Islamic Solutions to Gen Z's Cognitive Challenges… M. Agha Mohammadi (81
regarding earlier issues also helps in gratification. For instance, students can
effectively and successfully addressing set personal goals—like improving
this matter. Besides, Islam offers several their study habits or preparing for a
teachings and practices to help overcome competition—requiring them to forego
the culture of instant gratification. Here certain leisure activities in favor of
are some key Islamic principles and focused practice.
practices that address this issue:
5. Reduced Attention Span
• Patience Constant exposure to digital stimuli,
The Qur’an frequently emphasizes the such as notifications, social media, and
virtue of patience. Allah says, rapid content consumption, can lead to
“And be patient, for surely Allah a state where people are frequently
does not waste the reward of the shifting their focus from one task to
good-doers.” (The Qur'an, 11:115). another (Alsop, 2014).
Muslims are encouraged to practice This overwhelming amount of
patience in their daily lives, whether rapidly consumable content fosters
it’s in their worship, interactions with shallow engagement, making it difficult
others, or facing life's challenges. for users to focus for more extended
Patience helps to delay gratification periods. A study indicates that the
and focus on long-term rewards. To average attention span for consuming
promote the value of patience and content on platforms like TikTok is
delayed gratification among children around 8 seconds, leading to a
through a family savings challenge that preference for bite-sized information
emphasizes the benefits of saving for a (FE News Editor, 2022). This can result
larger, more meaningful goal rather in a reduced ability to concentrate on a
than seeking immediate rewards. single task for an extended period. The
habit of rapidly switching tasks can
• Delayed Gratification in Worship undermine the brain's ability to engage
Regular prayers, five times a day, are a in deep, sustained focus, which is
discipline that requires setting aside time, crucial for complex problem-solving
focusing, and delaying other activities. and critical thinking. Previously
This ritual teaches the importance of mentioned strategies, such as self-
prioritizing spiritual over material reckoning, time management, and
gratification. The Qur’an commands purposeful use, can also be beneficial in
believers to take recourse in patience and addressing this issue.
prayer (Ref: The Qur'an, 2: 45). Schools Islamic teachings offer several
can engage students in activities that strategies to help the youth cultivate focus
illustrate the principles of delayed and avoid a reduced attention span, a
