Mosque leaders to kids: Beware of 'Google sheiks'

Sheikh Hisham AlQaisi, imam of Islamic Foundation in Villa Park, said mosque leaders are trying to identify the psychological and spiritual vulnerabilities of their youths.

The 40-year-old mosque draws more than 10,000 members; their children make up the more than 600 students in preschool through 12th grade at Islamic Foundation School.

In addition to workshops on Internet safety and monitoring social media, AlQaisi encourages face-to-face interaction among youths and scholars, parents and educators.

"What we've been trying to do is promote a culture of, if you've got a question, talk to a person," he said.

AlQaisi cautions youths against seeking answers from "Google sheiks" and urges them to consult the plethora of traditionally trained Islamic scholars in the Chicago area.

"We're telling kids ... bring it to your imam, your parents, and talk about it there, rather than jumping on an open forum," he said.

In most cases, their questions stem from confusion about maintaining their Muslim identity in American culture.

"These recruiters are preying on that," said AlQaisi, himself a Palestinian-American born in Kentucky. "You can be Muslim and American. It's not either-or. We have found the more you develop Muslim youth identity and relate to them that Islamic values are not in contradiction with American citizenship, the children are more comfortable in their environment and in their culture. We acknowledge social media is a part of life. It's how you conduct yourself. You are bound by your Islamic principles of modesty, truthfulness, not inciting hate."

At the Villa Park school, educators have responded to "misrepresentations" of the faith through the Quran.

"We've taken some misunderstood verses from the Quran that some of these fringe groups use and talked to them (about) how scholars understand these verses," Principal Omar Qureshi said.

He also talks to students and parents about which websites authentically represent Islam, and which don't.

Qureshi said seeing negative representations of Islam and Muslims in the media is distressing for youths, who often become depressed and begin questioning their faith.

"They think the larger society is not accepting of us," Qureshi said. "We've had our counselors speak to them. We've dealt with it in our Islamic studies curriculum too. We try to address it academically, social and emotionally, and politically as well."