TREASURABLE COMPANIONSHIP

Every one of us is born into a community and society where we interact with lots of people from very young age. When days pass we come closer to each other and known to be friends.

A child from the age 6-9 considers his parents to be his/her only source of happiness, world and wealth. Slowly, when they enter the age of 13 to 19, they start to move along with several people in society which influences them a great deal. Fortunately, an Islamic home in this regard takes a profound place in shaping an individual.

Of course, friendship affirms people to live together without standing alone in the society. Naturally, a man yearn for friendship and cannot live without it. It influences him in three main ways such as:

a)      Future and victory

b)      Family

c)      Religion and spiritual activities                                                                                                                                        

Prophet Mohammed who possessed the most noble character and dealings with fellow humans gave us a very clear and simple message and advice in regard to friendship. He said:

“A person is likely to follow the faith of his friend, so look whom you befriend”

Yet, if you are having a good impact on someone, It means you are in a good company, on the other hand, if you are devaluing someone and have a bad impact, your company is at risk.

The following hadith testifies to the importance of friendship as the prophet Mohammed (PBUH) said:

“ The example of a good companion and 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 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”

Remember, a bad friend is someone who directs you towards evil. He teaches bad habits. He slowly governs you and destroys all your goals and finally distances you from your parents and your creator. One of the biggest plan of shaytan is that he comes to you through your companions.

In case of a good friend, he gives a great patronage and company. He reminds you of Allah, prays five times a day. He wishes you all good and every single victory in your life. It is fruitless pride to say you have earned a good friend in life.

Once the prophet Mohammed was asked, “what person can be the best friend? “He who helps you remember Allah and reminds you when you forget him”, the prophet Mohammed counseled.

In most cases, a friend is acquired from the environment rather than selecting each with their attributes and characters. Amongst all, finding a good friend is highly regarded and signified. Friends of various types are vividly scattered. When you want to look someone, look at their company or the people they mix with. We say this normally regarding marriage proposals. It is noteworthy to look at a boy or girl’s close companion rather than asking themselves.

A very good example to state the fact that when we see fish in the ocean, we notice the whale moves with all other whales wherein the little bream moves with the other breams, the snook with snook, the hake moves with hake and so on. But it is impossible to find one small fish, one big fish, one hook and hake moving together. The reason is that they have to have something in common to move together. The same applies to human beings. Someone who is pious and someone who is drunkard cannot move together. It’s like a sardine moving with a whale. It cannot happen, as one will devour the other. Likewise, selecting a good company emboldened all our worldly appeals as well as the hereafter. A well-known proverb simply relates the idea of good friendship and having a great company as, “birds of a feather, flocks together”.

Furthermore, Islam has a unique way of calling friendship as “brotherhood”. Our prophet worked hard to bring about this all throughout his life. He united the people of makkah by introducing brotherhood among them. Subsequently, he continued his mission in madinah too. As a result, people of makkah and madinah united together under the title of “brotherhood” which later pumped into work with Islamic projects moderately.

The Quran has the following to describe in a tacit manner,

“The believers are but brothers, so make settlement between your brothers. And fear Allah that you may receive mercy” (Al-hujirath: 10)

Allah has created man with mercy, compassion and friendship. He has designed them naturally to be friends with each other. Unfortunately, shaytan has bridled this thought as lust and eroticism. Today the cinema industry runs behind this social theme and has engrossed numerous fans. It is a burning issue all around the world up to date exhilarating illegal relations.

“Good friendship “is one of the best provisions for this world and hereafter. This is known as “brotherhood “in Islam. Our prophet Mohammed has mentioned the beauty of this act of friendship through brotherhood in several hadith. Abuhuraira ralliyallahu anhu reported that the prophet Mohammed (PBUH) said,” A believer is a mirror of his brother. A believer is a brother of another believer. He protects him against loss and defends him behind his back”.

A good friendship determines an Islamic home and leads the way directly to paradise. Obtaining a high place in jannah, Allah’s mercy, tasting the sweetness of iman, shadow under “arsh” are all imbued by friendship. Therefore, It is the profound duty of everyone to choose the correct and best friends sidelining the evil friends with deep contemplation. May Allah protect us and our offspring’s from bad companions all the life, Aameen!

                                                                                                                                                        - Shazly Nafeel-   

                                                                                                                                                         (8^th batch, ACHE)