Sunnats and Aadaab which every person needs to adhere to in his individual life – 8

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 a person asked Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam), “Who is the best 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 remember 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).”