Who Are Your Friends?

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Friendship is one of the most influential aspects of human relationships, significantly shaping our behaviour, values, and, ultimately, our destinies. Stories abound about how the right kind of friends can lead to eternal blessings, while the wrong company can result in dire consequences. Reflecting on this, it becomes crucial to examine who your friends are and the roles they play in your life.

To start with, it is crucial to be aware, as a Muslim, of the impacts of the righteous friends. This, definitely, will gear you to choose one. Consider the story of a sister whose friends performed countless acts of Sadaqatun Jāriyah(ongoing charity) on her behalf after her passing away, ensuring she continues to receive rewards in her grave. Or the friend who deleted the haram music videos of his deceased companion after dreaming of the torment the videos were causing. Such friends embody the essence of loyalty and care even after death. Additionally, there are narrations of people saved from Jahannam because their friends in Jannah pleaded with Allah(SWT) on their behalf, testifying to their shared acts of worship and righteousness. These examples compel us to ask: Who are your friends?

Moving on, it is also sacrosanct that a Muslim gets to know the dangers of harmful company. As knowing this will keep him/her away from such. It behoves you, as a Muslim, to be in the know that not all friends contribute positively to our life. Are your companions the type who resort to haram activities, like drinking alcohol, to console themselves when faced with loss? Will they expose your haram actions after your death, reminiscing about the wrongs you committed together? Worse still, will they indulge in slander and gossip, turning every gathering into a session of negativity and backbiting? If your companions influence you to digress from matters of the deen, then this is a call for self-reflection.

Moreover, you should not forget that friendship is a two-way street. While evaluating your friends, it is equally important to assess the kind of friend you are to others. Do you encourage goodness and deter wrong, or do you silently enable harmful behaviour? Are you the kind of friend who speaks up when someone is about to engage in sin, or do you cheer them on? True friendship demands mutual accountability, and as a Muslim, you have a responsibility to guide your friends toward righteousness.

On this note, Islam has provided more than enough injunctions on what to consider as friendship. Allah(SWT) emphasizes the significance of choosing friends wisely in the Qur’an. In Surah Az-Zukhruf (43:67), He warns: "Friends on that day will be enemies to one another, except the righteous."

Similarly, Surah Al-Furqan (25:27-29) highlights the regret of those who befriended the wrong people:

"Woe to me! Would that I had taken a path with the Messenger. Woe to me! If only I had not taken so-and-so as a friend! He led me astray from the Reminder after it had come to me."

The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) further reinforced this in a hadith: "A person is likely to follow the faith of his friend, so look whom you befriend." (Reported by Abu Dawood and Tirmidhi)

These teachings underline the need to carefully select friends who inspire us to stay on the straight path, without encouraging arrogance or disdain toward others. While maintaining respectful and cordial relations with all, true friendship should be reserved for those who enjoin good and forbid evil.

More importantly, the Quran provides guidance on the qualities of righteous companions in Surah At-Tawbah (9:71):

"And the believing men and the believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong, and establish prayer and give zakah and obey Allah and His Messenger.

In contrast, the same surah (9:67) warns against hypocritical companions:

"The hypocritical men and the hypocritical women are alike: they enjoin what is wrong and forbid what is right and withhold their hands [from doing good]."

The Prophet (PBUH) identified the traits of hypocrites in a hadith saying:

"The signs of a hypocrite are three: when he speaks, he lies; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; and when he is entrusted, he betrays the trust." (Reported by Muslim)

These verses and hadith offer clear criteria for identifying and avoiding harmful friendships.

What is more, the concept of "Friends till Jannah" is both inspiring and motivating. Imagine being reunited with a lifelong friend in paradise, reminiscing about how you supported each other in worship and righteous deeds. Such a bond is truly priceless, but it requires effort and intention in this world.

To this end, the company we keep profoundly influences our faith, actions, and ultimate destination. Befriending the righteous leads to goodness in this world and the next, while associating with the wrong people can lead to regret and loss. So, take a moment to reflect: Who are your friends, and what kind of friend are you? The answers to these questions could determine your path in both this life and the hereafter. Choose wisely.

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