Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
20. The people one befriends should be people of piety and taqwa. Through taking such people as friends, one will be motivated towards inculcating the sunnah and upholding the laws of deen in one’s life.
One should refrain from taking non-Muslims as friends as we have been prohibited from this in the Quraan and Hadith. Similarly, one should refrain from taking such people as close friends who are not committed to deen.
Allah Ta’ala mentions in the Quraan Majeed:
یٰۤاَیُّهَا الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْا لَاتَتَّخِذُوا الْکٰفِرِیْنَ اَوْلِیَاۤءَ مِنْ دُوْنِ الْمُؤْمِنِیْنَ (النساء:144)
O you who believe! Do not take the disbelievers as friends instead of the believers!
عن أبي هريرة أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: الرجل على دين خليله، فلينظر أحدكم من يخالل (سنن أبي داود، الرقم: 4833)
Hazrat Abu Hurairah (radhiyallahu anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “A man follows the ways of his friend, therefore one should be careful as to who one befriends.”
عن ابن عباس قال قيل يا رسول الله أي جلسائنا خير قال من ذكركم الله رؤيته وزاد في علمكم منطقه وذكركم بالآخرة عمله (مسند أبي يعلى، الرقم: 2437)
Hazrat ibnu Abbaas (radhiyallahu anhuma) reports that once Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) was asked the following question by a Sahaabi, “Which person should we associate with and take as our companion?” Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) replied, “The one who when you see him, you are reminded of Allah Ta’ala; when he speaks, your knowledge of deen increases; and when you look at his actions, you are reminded of the Hereafter.”
عن أبي موسى رضي الله عنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: مثل الجليس الصالح والسوء كحامل المسك ونافخ الكير فحامل المسك إما أن يحذيك وإما أن تبتاع منه وإما أن تجد منه ريحا طيبة ونافخ الكير إما أن يحرق ثيابك وإما أن تجد ريحا خبيثة (صحيح البخاري، الرقم: 5534)
Hazrat Abu Musa (radhiyallahu anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “The example of a pious companion and a bad companion is like a person carrying musk and a person fanning a fire. As for (remaining in the company of) the person carrying musk, then either he will give you (some musk) as a gift, or you can purchase it from him, or (at the very least), you will enjoy a pleasant fragrance (while remaining in his company). As for (remaining in the company of) the person fanning the fire, then either he will burn your clothing, or (at the very least) you will perceive the unpleasant smell (of the smoke).”
21. Ensure that at all times you remain in the company of pious people. If you are in the company of people who are engaged in gheebat or buhtaan (slandering someone), then you should stop them from this sin. If they do not refrain from the wrong, or you are unable to stop them, then you should wake up and leave the gathering.
Allah Ta’ala mentions in the Quraan Majeed:
يَأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَكُونُوا مَعَ الصّدِقِينَ (التوبة: 119)
O you who believe! Fear Allah and be with those who are true (in word and deed).
عن أبي هريرة، أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، قال: أتدرون ما الغيبة؟ قالوا: الله ورسوله أعلم، قال: ذكرك أخاك بما يكره قيل أفرأيت إن كان في أخي ما أقول؟ قال: إن كان فيه ما تقول، فقد اغتبته، وإن لم يكن فيه فقد بهته (صحيح مسلم، الرقم: 2589)
Hazrat Abu Hurairah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) asked, “Do you know what is gheebah?” The Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) replied, “Allah Ta‘ala and His messenger know best.” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Speaking about your brother (in his absence) of that which he would dislike.” A Sahaabi asked, “What if what I am saying is (true and) found in my brother (then too will it be gheebah)?” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) replied, “If what you say regarding him is (true and) found in him, then you have backbit him, and if what you mention regarding him is not found in him, then you have slandered him.”
وعن جابر وأبي طلحة رضي الله عنهما أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: ما من امرئ يخذل امرأ مسلما في موضع تنتهك فيه حرمته وينتقص فيه من عرضه إلا خذله الله في موطن يحب فيه نصرته وما من امرئ ينصر مسلما في موضع ينتقص فيه من عرضه وينتهك فيه من حرمته، إلا نصره الله في موطن يحب نصرته (سنن أبي داود، الرقم: 4884)
Hazrat Jaabir and Hazrat Abu Talhah (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma) report that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “Whichever person forsakes a Muslim in a place where his respect is being violated and his reputation is being tarnished, Allah Ta‘ala will forsake him on the occasion when he would greatly hope and desire for Allah Ta‘ala’s help (whether in this world or in the aakhirah). And whosoever helps a Muslim in such a place where his reputation is being tarnished and his respect is being violated, Allah Ta‘ala will help him on the occasion when he would greatly hope and desire for Allah Ta‘ala’s help (whether in this world or in the aakhirah).”
وعن أبي بكر الصديق رضي الله عنه قال إني سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: ما من قوم يعمل فيهم بالمعاصي، ثم يقدرون على أن يغيروا، ثم لا يغيروا إلا يوشك أن يعمهم الله منه بعقاب (سنن أبي داود، الرقم: 4338)
Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddeeq (radhiyallahu anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “There are no people among whom sin takes place openly, and they have the ability to prevent the wrong yet they do not prevent it, except that Allah Ta‘ala will soon engulf all of them in a severe punishment.”
