The importance of friends in Islam

(القدوة الحسنة)

A thread

Companionship in Islam is a very important topic.

The Prophet PBUH had companions and friends who helped him in his mission to establish Islam.

So choosing righteous friends is crucial for your akhira.

Allah (swt) in the Quran describes the individual who will regret choosing bad companions on the day of judgment:

“Woe to me! I wish I had never taken so-and-so as a close friend.”

“It was he who truly made me stray from the Reminder after it had reached me...”

{25:28-29}

The prophet PBUH explained why it is important to choose righteous friends in this hadeeth:

"A person is upon the religion of his close friend, so beware whom you befriend." {At-Tirmidhi}

This shows that if your friend or companion is good then he will lead you to good and if he is bad he will lead you to what is bad.

The Prophet PBUH also said:

“The good companion in comparison with a bad one is like that of the musk seller and the blacksmith's bellows; from the first you would enjoy its good smell while the bellows would either burn your body/clothes or you get a bad smell thereof”

So if you are friends with those who sin openly or have a bad influence on you, advise them or find better friends.

On the day of judgment no friend or family will be there for you so make sure that your friendships will not cost you your akhira.

May Allah guide us all and grant us righteous friends.

Ameen