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The Prophet cited an extraordinary comparison between righteous company andevil association. He mentioned, 'Verily, the example of a good companion in comparison

to an evil one is like that of the musk seller and the blacksmith's bellow. From the first

you would either get a gift of his musk's scent, buy some from him, or enjoy its good smell,

while the bellow will either burn your clothes, or give you a bad, nasty smell thereof.'

[Agreed upon] Thus, we need to be very careful when choosing associates and along these

lines, a Muslim should be very much concerned to understand the Islamic perspective of

friendship and characteristics of a good companion, in order to choose the right person to

associate with. Following are some guidelines deduced from the teachings of the Qur'aan

and the Sunnah, which designate the characteristics of a Muslims friends.

Man is liable to imitate and copy those whom he befriends. If ones friends

engage in virtuous deeds, this would prompt him to imitate good qualities.

Whereas, if ones friends indulge in bad practices, then it is very likely for

him to get accustomed with their bad characteristics and eventually

incorporate them in his behavior, knowingly or unknowingly! Such is also true

concerning ones beliefs as Allahs Messenger is reported to have said,

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Faith:

Righteousness, God-fearing:

Morals and Good Character:

Faith should be the first criterion for a meaningful

friendship. Allah says, The believers, men and

women, are Awliya (helpers, supporters, friends,

protectors) of one another; they enjoin (on the

people) al-Maroof (i.e. Islamic Monotheism andall

that Islam orders one to do), and forbid (people)

from al-Munkar (i.e. polytheism, disbelief of allkinds, and all that Islam has forbidden); they

perform Salaat, and give the Zakaat, and obey

Allah and His Messenger. Allah will have His

Mercy on them. Surely, Allah is All-Mighty, All-

Wise. [Soorah Tawbah (9): 71] Thus, friendship

based on the correct faith aims towards

supporting and encouraging one another towards

the obedience of Allah. Its goal is much more

sublime than the friendship that is done for

worldly gain, and amongst its benefits is that it is

a means to safeguard ones Aqeedah from being

tainted with incorrect beliefs and practices.

The Messenger of Allah said: 'Men are of two

types, a man who is righteous, fearful of Allah and

honorable to Allah, or a man who is vicious,

miserable and insignificant to Allah, the

Exalted,' [al-Muntakhab by Abd bin Humayd

(793)]

Thus, the best of people to befriend arethose who possess Taqwaa (fear of Allah) for,

'Verily, the most honorable of you with Allah is

that (believer) who has Taqwa.' [Soorah al-

Hujurat (49): 13] and 'Allah loves those who are

al-Muttaqin (those who possess Taqwa).' [Soorah

Maryam (19): 63]

Islam gives precedence to Taqwa in all

matters, for example, in cases of marriage while

choosing a life partner, Allah's Messenger

stressed upon choosing a pious spouse, he said,

'A women is married for four (reasons); herwealth, her nobility, her beauty and her piety.

Choose the pious one and you will be successful.'

[Saheeh al-Bukharee (7/27)] He also said, 'If a

man, whose practice of the religion satisfies you,

asks you for your daughter in marriage, you

should marry them; otherwise, there will be

corruption on the Earth.' [At-Tirmidhee]

Choosing a friend is as important as choosing a

life partner, therefore the wise choice are the

(those who possess Taqwa). Ali

advised, 'Befriend righteous people, for they are a

good resource to use in this and the last life. Have

you not heard the statement of the people of the

Fire, 'Now we have no intercessors. Nor a close

friend (to help us). (2): 175' [al-Ihya]

Benefits of accompanying righteous people

are numerous, amongst which is improving one's

religion. As people are always found to be

competitive within friends, associating with

righteous individuals inspires competing them in

righteous deeds, thus expanding the scope of

performing righteous deeds and perfecting thereligion.

Consider the example of the Sahabah ,

they were only second in righteousness to Allah's

Messenger , because they were so close to the

Prophet - the most pious. Also, a number of

narrations show that the Sahabah would

compete each other in performing righteous deeds

and achieving high ranks with Allah. For

instance, Umar said, 'The Messenger of Allah

ordered us to give charity at a time when I had

some money. I said to myself, 'This day, if ever, Iwill be ahead of Abu Bakr .' I brought half of my

money and the Messenger of Allah asked me,

'What have you left for your family?' I said, 'A

similar amount.' Abu Bakr brought all he had and

the Messenger of Allah asked him, 'What have

you left for your family?' He said, 'I left for them

Allah and His Messenger .' So, I said to myself, 'I

will never compete with you again.' [Abu Dawood]

It is necessary that the friends you choose havegood character and possess Islamic morals and

etiquettes. Allah, the Exalted, has encouraged

His slaves in the Qur'aan to associate with those

who have good characteristics. Allah says, 'O you

who believe! Fear Allah and be with those who are

true (in words and in deeds).' [(9): 119]

It is essential that those whom you choose

as friends recognize and respect the limits of

Allah. For example, they should understand the

Islamic etiquettes of speaking and language, for

sometimes talks among friends can go beyond

bounds, like one may be involved in sins like

Gheebah (backbiting), nick-naming, slandering,

etc. which are generally considered to be very

insignificant, but can have disastrous affect on

one's Hereafter. The Messenger of Allah said,

'Beware of sins which are treated as being minor;

just like a people who encamp in the center of a

valley, so someone brings a stick of firewood and

someone else brings a stick until they are able to

bake their bread. Likewise, sins which are treated

as being minor and for which the person is taken

to account will destroy him.' [(Saheeh) MusnadAhmad (5/331) and others] It is related that the

Muttaqoon

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Messenger of Allah was once passing through

one of the graveyards of Medina or Makkah; he

heard voices of two persons who were being

tortured in their graves. The Prophet said,

'These two person are being tortured, (but) not for

a major sin.' He further added, 'Yes. Indeed, one of

them never saved himself from being soiled with

his urine while the other used to go about with

calumnies (to make enmity between friends).'[Saheeh al-Bukharee (1/215)]

The importance of good character is also

manifest in the Hadeeth of Allah's Messenger

who said, 'Nothing will be heavier on the Day of

Resurrection in the scale of the believer than good

manners. Allah hates one who utters foul or

coarse language.' [At-Tirmidhee] The Messenger

of Allah was asked about the deed, which will be

foremost to lead a man to Jannah, he replied,

'Fear of Allah and the good character.'...' [At-

Tirmidhee]

One's associates and

surrounding should help him remember Allah

because man is ordered to remember Allah at all

times. Remembrance of Allah strengthens the

slave's bond with His Lord and prevents his heart

and mind from being heedless of divine guidelines

and limits. Abu Hurayrah reported the

Messenger of Allah saying, 'If anyone sits in a

gathering where he does not remember Allah, he

will bring grief upon himself (on the Day of

Resurrection), and he who lies down in a place

where he does not remember Allah, will bring

grief upon himself (on the Day of Resurrection).'

[Abu Dawood]

The superiority of the remembrance of

Allah was explained by Allah's Messenger , who

said: 'The example of the one who remembers his

Lord, in comparison to the one who does not

remember his Lord, is that of a living creature

compared to a dead.' [Saheeh al-Bukharee]

I n th e pr esen t ti me of t rial s an d

tribulations, it is very easy to be caught up in

worldly affairs. Allah warns His slaves againstassociating with those who busy themselves in

worldly pleasures and give no heed to the

remembrance of Allah. Allah says, 'And keep

yourself patiently with those who call on their

Lord, morning and afternoon, seeking His Face

and let not your eyes overlook them, desiring the

pomp and glitter of the life of the world; and obey

not him whose hearts We have made heedless of

Our Remembrance, one who follows his own lust

and whose affairs (deeds) have been lost.' [(18):

28] The Qur'aan informs us that on the Day of

Judgment there will be people who will bite their

hands in regret that they were lead astray

because of choosing wrong people as their friends,

they would say, 'Woe to me! Would that I had

never taken so-and-so as a friend! He indeed led

me astray from the Reminder (this Qur'aan) after

it had come to me.' [Soorah al-Furqan (25): 27]

Whereas, those who help one another in piety,

truth and remembrance of Allah will surely

benefit each other in the Hereafter. Allah will

grant them His Shade on the Day of Judgment

and He says, 'Friends on that day will be foe's one

t o a not her e xce pt A l -Mut t aq o on ( pio us,

righteous).' [Soorah az-Zukhruf (43):67]

Remembering Allah:

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A Muslim's primary concern before choosing friends should be to seek the Pleasure of Allah in the

friendship. The Messenger of Allah said, 'Whoever loves for Allah, and hates for Allah, gives for Allah

and withholds for Allah, has completed his faith.' [Abu Dawood]

Friendship that is based upon the sincere purpose of seeking Allah's Pleasure brings about the

love of Allah for the slave. Abu Hurayrah narrated that Allah's Messenger said, 'A man went to visit

a brother of his in another village. Allah sent an Angel to wait for him on the road. When the man came,

the Angel asked him, 'Where do you intend to go?' He said, 'I am going to visit a brother of mine who lives

in this village.' The Angel asked, 'Have you done him any favor (for which you are now seeking

repayment)?' He said, 'No, I just love him for the sake of Allah.' The Angel told him, 'I am a messenger to

you from Allah, sent to tell you that He (Allah) Loves you as you love your brother for His sake.' [Saheeh

Muslim]

From the benefits of such a virtuous friendship is that on the Day of Judgment, when, 'the sky

will be like the boiling filth of oil (or molten lead, etc.) andthe mountains will be like flakes of wool. And no

friend will ask of a friend.' [(70): 8-10] 'That day shall a man flee from his brother. And from his mother

and his father, and from his wife and children.' [(81): 34-37] 'Allah, the Exalted, will declare on the Day of

Resurrection, 'Where are those who loved each other for the sake of My Grace? This Day, I shall shadethem under My Shade, when there is only My Shade.' [Saheeh Muslim]

Friendship for Allah's Sake