Everyone needs them, but not everyone has them.
Everyone needs them, but not everyone has them.
Friends. Everyone needs them, but not everyone has them.
A friend should be more than just a person who you can hang out with at any time – they should be a confidante and someone who can always give you the right advice no matter what.
The relationship kept with friends is stressed very highly in our religion. Not only is it encouraged, but the importance of having good friends and surrounding yourself with good company is relayed to Muslims many a time.
Here are some Hadiths about friendship that you may not have heard:
1. Who to befriend?
Keep company of a believer only and let your food be eaten only by the righteous.” (Tirmidhi)
2. The seriousness of friendship
A man follows the religion of his friend; so each one should consider whom he makes his friend” (Abu Dawud)
3. Who is a true friend?
The true friend is only he who regards his friend in three situations: ordeal, absence, and death.” (Nahjul Balagha)
4. Why should one have many true friends?
Try to have as many as possible true friends, for they are the supplies in joy and the shelters in misfortunes.” (Bihar-ul-Anwar)
5. What to do when your friend does something wrong
If you wish to mention the faults of your friend, mention your own faults first.” (Bukhari)
6. The qualities of a good friend
Your best friend is the one who: seeing him reminds you of Allah, speaking to him increases your knowledge, and his actions remind you of the hereafter.” (Al-Muhasibi)
Always remember that friendship is not only a social construct but a religiously significant relationship. And remember, Islam, asks us to keep friends that bring us closer to Allah and to make sure we treat them well.
