In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most
Merciful
By Isa al-Bosnawi
Humans have always been social creatures and in need of friends and
companions. Much of our lives is spent in interaction with others. For us
Muslims who are living in a society where we are clearly a minority, the issue
of choosing right companions is essential for preserving our Deen. Befriending
righteous and virtuous Muslims is an essential means for staying on the
Straight Path. Strong individuals, on the other hand, are the core of a strong
community, something that Muslims should always strive for.
We all know that we were created for a specific purpose and that Allah
the Most High has given us life in order to test us. None of us will deny that
we are here for a relatively short period of time and that we shall meet Allah
(s.w.t.) one Day.
Once we know our purpose and our goal, we should seek ways to achieve
them so as to benefit our own selves. All of us believe that Allah has sent us
a Messenger (s.a.w.) and revealed to us the Qur'an, the Best Speech.
In an authentic Hadith, the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) said: "A
person is likely to follow the faith of his friend, so look whom you
befriend."(1). The person most noble in character and dealings with fellow
humans gave us a very clear message and advice in regard to friendship. We
should choose the friend that is satisfied with our Deen and avoid the friend
that is displeased with it. Whoever we see and are pleased with his Deen, we
should befriend him and whoever we are displeased with his Deen and his
manners, we ought to avoid him. There is no good in the companion who does not
wish for us (from good) what he wishes for himself. There is also no good in
the companion who wishes for us what he wishes for himself, if what he likes
for his own soul is leading him towards destruction and Hellfire.
The bases for the actions of those who follow the evil ways are corrupt;
their actions are built upon misguidance and deviation. Their deeds are
worthless to them as Allah (s.w.t.) said: "And We will proceed to what
they have done of deeds, so We shall render them to scattered floating
dust." [25:23]. Their actions, even if we regard them as righteous and
noble are of no value to them, so how can they be of benefit to us? Friends are
those who feel for their companions, in both happy and sad moments. If we share
our feelings with the wrong- doers whose actions are worthless and based on
corruption, then we are following the same ways and standards as they are.
Affection which results from that friendship leads to love and closeness to
other than the righteous believers, and this may even lead to avoiding those
who are on the Straight Way. Mixing with followers of any way other than that
of the Guidance also results in a change in one's behaviour, morals and
conduct. If we agree, follow and are pleased with such friends, then we inherit
their habits, behaviours and even religion. Such a Muslim would find himself in
a situation wherein he is willing to hide his Islam in front of those who
despise it (those that he considers as friends) and to separate from the
believers. When this situation occurs, a point is reached when there is a very
slight difference between the Muslim and his wrong-doing companion. Such a
companionship is the root of sickness of one's heart and loss of one's Deen.
Instead of making friends with the misguided ones we should befriend the
righteous and treat the rest in a gracious and just manner. Staying on a
sufficient distance is necessary, yet treating everybody in a noble and kind
manner is required.
In another Hadith, Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) said: "The example of
a good companion and a bad companion is like that of the seller of musk, and
the one who blows the blacksmith's bellows. So as for the seller of musk then
either he will grant you some, or you buy some from him, or at least you enjoy
a pleasant smell from him. As for the one who blows the blacksmith's bellows
then either he will burn your clothes or you will get an offensive smell from
him."(2)
In his commentary of this Hadith, Imam an-Nawawy said that the Prophet
(s.a.w.) compared a good companion to a seller of musk and spoke of the virtue
of having companions who are good, who have noble manners, piety, knowledge and
good culture. Such are those who grant us from their virtue. And he (s.a.w.) forbade
us to sit with those who do evil, commit a lot of sins and other bad deeds, as
well as with innovators, backbiters, and so forth. Another scholar said:
"keeping good company with the pious results in attainment of beneficial
knowledge, noble manners and righteous actions, whereas keeping company with
the wicked prevents all of that." Many times a Muslim is encouraged by his
friends to do evil and to forget his duties. The result is that Muslims
themselves are often ashamed to leave them to perform prayer, their friends
thus causing them to clearly deviate from the Right Path.
Allah the Exalted says in the Qur'an: "And (remember) the Day when
the wrong-doer will bite his hands and say: 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 has led me astray from this Reminder (the Qur'an) after it had come
to me. And Satan is ever a deserter to man in the hour of need."
[25:27-29] So take heed before the inevitable Day comes and we are reckoned for
our acts.
Allah, the All-Wise also says: "Friends on that Day will be enemies
one to another, except al-Muttaqoon (i.e. those who have Taqwah)." [43:67]
Hafidh Ibn Katheer, commenting on this verse, relates a story on the
authority of Ali Ibn Abi Talib (r.a.a.) and says that any friendship for other
than Allah is turned into enmity, except what was in it for Allah the Mighty
and Majestic: Two who are friends for Allah's sake; one of them dies and is
given good news that he will be granted al-Jannah, so he remembered his friend
and he supplicated for him, saying: O Allah, my friend used to command me to
obey You and to obey Your Prophet (s.a.w.) and used to command me to do good
and to forbid me from doing evil. And he told me that I will meet You. O Allah,
do not let him go astray after me, until you show him what you have just shown
me, until You are satisfied with him, just like You are satisfied with
me." So he is told: "Had you known what is (written) for you friend,
would you have laughed a lot and cried a little." Then his friend dies and
their souls are gathered, and both are asked to express their opinions about
each other. So each one of them says to his friend: you were the best brother,
the best companion and the best friend." And when one of the two
disbelieving friends dies, and he is given tidings of Hellfire, he remembered
his friend and he said: O Allah, my friend used to order me to disobey You and
disobey Your Prophet, and commanded me to do evil, and forbade me from doing
good, and told me that I would not meet You. O Allah, do not guide him after
me, until you show him what you have just shown me and until you are
dissatisfied with him just like You are dissatisfied with me." Then the
other disbelieving friend dies, and their souls are gathered, and both are
asked to give their opinions about each other. So each one says to his friend:
you were the worst brother, the worst companion and the worst friend."
That is the end of those who do not have Taqwah and those who befriend
for a sake other than that of Allah the Exalted. Allah has surely spoken the
truth and we all should grasp what He has informed us of. It is through the
good company that Allah, the Most High, saves those who are astray and guides
the wicked. The benefit of mixing with the righteous is immense, and it will,
insha'allah, be even more obvious to us in the Hereafter. One of the early
Muslims said that it is from Allah's blessings upon a youth when he turns to
worship that he is given brother who is a follower of the Sunnah encouraging
him upon it".
Sealing a friendship for Allah's sake will result in one's receiving
protection of Allah (s.w.t.). And as Ibn Abbas said: "No one may taste
true faith except by this (i.e. building relationships for Allah's sake), even
if his prayers and fasts are many. People have come to build their relationship
around the concerns of the world, but it will not benefit them in any
way." A scholar has said: "To seal a friendship for Allah's sake
indicates the obligation of establishing relationships of love and trust for
His sake; this is a friendship for the sake of Allah. It also indicates that
simple affection is not enough here; indeed what is meant is a love based upon
alliance. This entails assistance, honour, and respect. It means being with
those whom you love both in word and deed." Loyalty for the sake of Allah
really means to love Allah and to come to the assistance of His Deen; to love
those who are obedient to Him and to come to their help. Moreover, the Shahadah
"La Ilaha Illa Allah" requires us to ally ourselves for the sake of
Allah, and it requires us to ally ourselves to the Muslims wherever we find
them.
In two other authentic narrations of the Prophet (s.a.w.) we were
commanded to keep company with a believer only (3), and told that a person will
be with those he loves(4). So if we love and associate ourselves with those who
are misguided, we should fear for our fate. The wise person is the one who
prepares himself for the Hereafter, not the one who neglects his faith and falls
into the trap of Satan who tells him that he will be forgiven and that he can
do whatever he wishes. If we truly believe that the best speech is the Speech
of Allah and that he best guidance is the guidance of Prophet Muhammad
(s.a.w.), we should act in accordance with them, lest we build a proof against
ourselves. Ali (r.a.a.) said: "Mix with the noble people, you become one
of them; and keep away from evil people to protect yourself from their
evils." If we are truly concerned about our fate, we must come to this
realisation: those who take us away from remembering Allah, from obeying Him
and His Prophet (s.a.w.), those who fail to remind us of our daily prayers and
those who do not give us sincere advice in regard to our Deen; such are really
our foes and not our friends.
On the other side, a believer is the mirror of his brother"(5), and
if he sees any faults in the other believer, he draws his attention to it,
helps him to give it up and helps him wipe away any evil that he may have. Ibn
Hazm said: Anyone who criticizes you cares about your friendship. Anyone who
makes light of your faults cares nothing about you."
How can we expect sincere advice and exhortation in regard to our
religion from those who are displeased with our Deen or are simply indifferent?
Are they going to help us achieve the purpose of our life, or will they take us
away from it? Will they desire for us Allah's pleasure or is that Completely
irrelevant to them and not their concern at all? Are they leading us to
al-Jannah or to the Hellfire? These are the questions we have to ask ourselves,
lest we wake up after we die.
"O you who believe! Take care of your own selves. If you follow the
right guidance and enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong no hurt can
come to you from those who are in error. The return of you all is to Allah,
then He will inform you about (all) that which you used to do." [5:105]
We ask Allah to make us of the righteous ones and give us companions
that will take us away from His Wrath and lead us to His Pleasure and Paradise.
Courtesy Of: Islaam.com
Source: kalamullah.com
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