Choose who your friends are…

The Book of Sales and Trade

No. 1976

Narrated Abu Musa:

Allah’s Apostle said, “The example of a good companion (who sits with you) in comparison with a bad one, is I like that of the musk seller and the blacksmith’s bellows (or furnace); from the first you would either buy musk or enjoy its good smell while the bellows would either burn your clothes or your house, or you get a bad nasty smell thereof.”
[Sahih Al-Bukhari]

Points to take from this hadith:

• FACT: The people who we associate ourselves with, either have a positive or a negative impact on us. We must always try to surround ourselves with people who are most conscious of Allah (swt) so that we may be influenced in a positive way. “A person is likely to follow the faith of his friend, so look (carefully) whom you choose to befriend.” [Ahmad]

• We should not try to befriend someone because of their beauty, intelligence, wealth or high status. Rather it is their character and God-consciousness that should be scrutinized for friendship.  Allaah subhanahu says: “And keep yourself content with those who call on their Lord morning and evening, seeking His Countenance, and let not your eyes pass beyond them to those who seek the pomp and glitter of this life.“ [18:28]

• The best of friends Muslims can have is when we befriend and love someone for the sake of Allah (swt). In other words, loving someone because of their piety and closeness to the deen, not for worldy reasons. That is the true everlasting friendship which will reap many fruits in this life and the hereafter. “Allah shall ask on the Day of Judgment; ‘ Where are those who loved for the sake of my greatness? Today when there is no shade, I shall have them in My shade.'” [Sahih Muslim]

�If a man loves his brother in faith, he should tell him that he loves him.�[Abu Dawud]

• A Muslim should not abandon his brother/sister: There should be no breaking off of ties, no turning away from one another, no hating one another. Be brothers, as Allah has commanded you.[Muslim]

Allah Knows Best.
AllahuAlim.