Good Company
Allah (azza wa jal) Says:
“O you who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians as Awliyaa’ (friends, protectors, helpers), they are but Awliyaa’ of each other. And if any amongst you takes them (as Awliyaa’), then surely, he is one of them. Verily, Allaah guides not those people who are the Zaalimoon (polytheists and wrongdoers and unjust)”
[al-Maa’idah 5:51]
Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari (ra) reported: I heard the Prophet (saw) saying, “The similitude of good company and that of bad company is that of the owner of musk and of the one blowing the bellows. The owner of musk would either offer you some free of charge, or you would buy it from him, or you smell its pleasant fragrance; and as for the one who blows the bellows (i.e., the blacksmith), he either burns your clothes or you smell a repugnant smell.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Commentary: This Hadith enjoins that one should sit in the company of the pious persons and avoid the impious ones because the former has the quality of a perfume seller and the latter of a blacksmith. In the association of pious men, one stands to gain all the time and ultimately becomes like them. In bad company (kuffaar, sinners, etc) one is out-and-out a loser and can never hope to gain any benefit from them.
Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri (ra) reported: The Prophet (saw) said, “Keep only a believer for a companion and let only a pious eat your food.”
[At-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud]
Commentary: This Hadith forbids Muslims from befriending infidels (kaafirs) and stresses that they should establish a bond of friendship and fraternity with the pious persons only. The above Hadith signifies that taking believers for company has good consequences on the Muslim. While feeding only pious people compels the Muslim host to provide only Halal or lawful foodstuff for his household as well as his guests.
Abu Hurairah (ra) reported: I heard the Prophet (saw) saying, “Man follows his friend’s religion, you should be careful who you take for friends.”
[At-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud]
Ibn Umar (ra) reported: The Prophet (saw) said, “Whoever imitates a people, is one of them.”
[Abu Dawud]
Seifeddine-M
