Isolation and Good Company

In the hadeeth, Nabi (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) has explained that isolation is better than evil company and good company is better than isolation. Presently, going for nafl umrah and nafl hajj has become like a fashion. But what we need to see is whether we are investing in the right things. From the very beginning, we start talking to the air-hostesses, having casual discussions with them etc. Allah Ta‘ala has placed a balance within ourselves to judge our actions. Your heart and mind tells you that it is not right, but you still go ahead. By interacting with these non-mahrams all the good that we have is washed away.

A plane needs wheels and wings to fly. Without any of them it cannot fly. These are the basic things. So we too have to get the basics right so that we can move ahead. Sometimes we do not know what will touch and shake the heart. It can just be a smile, a wink of the eye or a smirk. Thus, the hadeeth says that isolation is better than bad company. Then on our way, how many of our namaaz become qadhaa; either our namaaz or the namaaz of our wives and children. Then when we reach the Haramain, then there are the T.V.’s in the rooms, and then we complain of the ‘Saudis’. So what was the benefit in going? So for people like us, we should ask ourselves whether we are going for entertainment or purely for ‘ibaadat. Then on our return, we try to bribe airport officials when we are over-weight and we are always worried about custom officials. So the better thing is to first correct ourselves and thereafter go. In this manner we will gain the true benefit. So we should go, but we should learn to discipline ourselves in order that we are not affected with the bad company.

Then good company is better than isolation. But here again it should not be just for the sake of convenience and worldly motives. In the past even the wealthy and monarchs would visit the mashaayikh. In general, the mashaayikh would not go to them, but they would desire that the wealthy come to them as this will be a means of honour for the wealthy. These wealthy would be affected by these pious for their hearts are connected to the King of Jannah who has all the treasures of happiness by Him.

Source: Al-Haadi