The Muslim’s Behavior as a friend
How cherished and prized is it to find a friend or to be a friend of another, and be linked together with the link of the hereafter not the world, of Paradise not the material benefit.
- Categories: Islamic Morals - General Etiquette -
Together in the shade of Allah
How cherished and prized is it to find a friend or to be a friend of another, and be linked together with the link of the hereafter not the world, of Paradise not the material benefit. That is the intent of the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, in his statement: “…and two men who love each other only for the Sake of Allah, and they gather and part only for the Sake of Allah.” [Reported by Al-Bukhari]
«...رجلان تحابا في الله اجتمعا عليه وتفرقا عليه» رواه البخاري
The righteous companion is made a gift and an evidence for the Love of Allah for a servant.
So, let us whisper into your ear:
Do you not like to be in the shade of the Throne of Allah, or have an evidence for the love of Allah for you?
Handed down statements:
Because it is very risky, there should be a reminder and a warner; and you would find none better than our righteous predecessors who preceded us to the right way to play that role:
‘Abdullah Ibn Mas‘ud, may Allah be pleased with him, says: “Nothing indicates to another, just like the smoke to the fire more than a friend to his friend.”
According to a righteous predecessor: “Take as many brothers (in the religion of Allah) as you can because every believer will have an intercession.”
‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, says: “Stick to the brothers of truth, and live in their shade, for they are adornment at the time of prosperity, and equipment at the time of adversity.”
Another one says: “Had it not been for three, I would not have liked to survive in this world: recitation of the Qur’an, standing at night (in prayer), and meeting the brothers (in the religion of Allah).
Risk of death
Below is a cry and a warning so that you would not slip with the evil companions and sinners, lest they would decline with you and make evil the conclusion of your deed.
‘Uqbah Ibn Abi Mu‘ayt was about to embrace Islam and announce it publicly, but his companion, Ubayy Ibn Khalaf swore that he would not speak with him unless he spat in the face of the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. In order to please his friend, ‘Uqbah went and spat in the face of the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and put his foot over his neck and threw also the abdominal content of a camel over his back. On that occasion, Allah Almighty revealed (what means): “And the Day the wrongdoer will bite on his hands [in regret] he will say, "Oh, I wish I had taken with the Messenger a way. Oh, woe to me! I wish I had not taken that one as a friend.” [Al-Furqan 25:27-28]
{وَيَوْمَ يَعَضُّ الظَّالِمُ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ يَقُولُ يَا لَيْتَنِي اتَّخَذْتُ مَعَ الرَّسُولِ سَبِيلاً (26) يَا وَيْلَتَى لَيْتَنِي لَمْ أَتَّخِذْ فُلَاناً خَلِيلاً} الفرقان: 27-28
Transliteration: Wayawma yaAAaddu alththalimu AAala yadayhi yaqoolu ya laytanee ittakhathtu maAAa alrrasooli sabeelan (27) Ya waylata laytanee lam attakhith fulanan khaleelan
So, beware, may Allah have mercy upon you.
Rights of company
· The balance of company is to know well its rights, in order to fulfill rather than to demand them.
“And the forerunners, the forerunners.” [Al-Waqi'ah 56:10]
{وَالسَّابِقُونَ السَّابِقُونَ} الواقعة: 10
Transliteration: Waalssabiqoona alssabiqoona
· It is to tell your companion about your love for him, as the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “If anyone of you loves his brother, he should tell him (about that).” [Authenticated by Al-Albani]
صححه الألباني‹‹إذا أحب أحدكم أخاه فليعلمه أنه يحبه››
· To supplicate for him behind his back. The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “No Muslim servant supplicates for his brother (to a good effect) behind his back but that an angel standing by his head says: “And you have the like of it.” [Reported by Muslim]
«ما من عبد مسلم يدعو لأخيه بظهر الغيب، إلا قال الملك: ولك بمثل» رواه مسلم
· Pardon and forgiveness: seek as many as seventy excuses for your brother, and if you do not find any, say (to yourself): “It may be that he has an excuse (which I do not know).”
Remember also how Bilal forgave Abu Dharr, may Allah be pleased with them. how needy we are for that!
· To offer to him material and spiritual aid and help
· To screen his mistakes, keep his secrets, and conceal his defects and slips. The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “A Muslim as a whole is inviolable to a Muslim: his blood, property and honor.” [Muslim]
رواه مسلم‹‹كل المسلم على المسلم حرام: دمه وماله وعرضه››
How excellent is he for friend!
The right in which a friend may test his friend most is the property, for the world and its conditions are not secured to anyone forever. Whoever gives his friend out of his property whenever he demands, provided that it is in good and not evil, how excellent is he for friend!
Both Fathi Al-Mawsili and ‘Eesa At-Tammar were friends. Once, Fathi came to the house of ‘Eesa and did not find him. He asked the maidservant to bring out the case of money of her master and she did, from which Fathi took two Dirhams. When ‘Eesa came, she told him, thereupon he said to her: “If you are true, then, you will be free.” When she proved true, he emancipated her.
On the day of (the battle of) Yarmuk, Khalid Ibn Al-Walid saw ‘Ikrimah in his last breaths. He asked him if he had a need, and he said to him: “Just a sip of water.” Before he drank, he heard the moaning of one of his brothers, thereupon he said: “Go and give him water before me.” When he went to give him, he (the second) heard a third one thereupon he asked him to go and give him first. The third said the same and the result is that the three died and none of them drank.
Take not Satan as companion
The mission of Satan is to invite to wrongdoing and evil which leads to fire. Allah Almighty says (what means): “And he to whom Satan is a companion - then evil is he as a companion.” [An-Nisa’ 4:38]
{...وَمَن يَكُنِ الشَّيْطَانُ لَهُ قَرِيناً فَسَاء قِرِيناً}النساء: 38
Transliteration: waman yakuni alshshaytanu lahu qareenan fasaa qareenan
The companion who induces you with cigarettes, then drugs, then sexual films, and such things is not the real companion. He is not a real companion, who teaches you how to hold relations with girls unlawful for you, or that who teaches you chatting and establishing companies via the internet, given that the famous statement among the youths is ‘Chat is the language of falsehood”. I beseech you by Allah, is that a friend who draws his friend to do all of this? Does he not deserve to be described as Satan?
Here, it is relevant to remember the statement of Allah Almighty (what means): “Close friends, that Day, will be enemies to each other, except for the righteous.” [Az-Zukhruf 43:67]
{الْأَخِلَّاء يَوْمَئِذٍ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ عَدُوٌّ إِلَّا الْمُتَّقِينَ} الزخرف: 67
Transliteration: Alakhillao yawmaithin baAAduhum libaAAdin AAaduwwun illa almuttaqeena
Practical duties:
· Be social, and recognize whomever you meet.
· The balance of company is the manners of Islam, otherwise, it is not.
· Choose and determine from those you recognize the persons whom you like to take as companions, and be accurate in your choice.
· Be very close to whomever you choose, and tell him that you love him in (the religion of) Allah as the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, stated.
· Supplicate Allah to a good effect for your friends, and to make your company always in good.
· Take heed of yourself, and be cautious about the evil friends round you: with which do they command you, where do you go, and to which do they guide you to read and view?