Dear Islamic brothers! It is a famous saying that “company makes the man”. Similarly, the company whether good or bad will eventually have its effect. The fortunate person, who is blessed with good company, has a stroke of fortune because by virtue of the blessing of good company he also develops good habits and gets rid of bad habits. He attains the passion for practicing (good deeds) and a great status in the society. But unfortunately if somebody has bad company, it means his bad time has started as the effects of bad company are very destructive. Bad company brings about the downfall of a righteous and simple person from his rise. Bad friends play a role in increasing evils and ruining the society. Those who spend their time with them, become like them sooner or later and bring about troubles in the society.

Who should be befriended and who shouldn’t?

Ameer-ul-Mu`mineen Sayyiduna ‘Umar Farooq-e-A’zam رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ has said: Do not involve in such thing which is not useful for you and stay away from your enemy and avoid your friend, but if he is trustworthy as there is no one equal to the one who is trustworthy and do not be with the sinner as he will teach you sins and do not talk about your secret in front of him and seek advice from those for your work, who fear Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. (Shu’ab-ul-Iman, vol. 4, pp. 257, Hadees 4995)

Ameer-ul-Mu`mineen Sayyiduna Maula Ali Mushkil Kusha رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ has said: Do not befriend a transgressor because he will decorate his act for you and will want you to be like him and will show his worst habit to be good. His visit to you is a defect and do not have brotherhood with a fool as he will put himself in trouble, but will give you no benefit. And maybe sometimes he will want to benefit you, but will harm you. His silence is better than speaking; his distance is better than nearness and his death is better than life. Do not have brotherhood with a liar either because sociability with him will not benefit you; he will convey to others whatever you have said to him and will bring to you what others have said to him and if you speak the truth, even then he will not speak the truth. (Tareekh-e-Ibn ‘Asakir, vol. 42, pp. 516)

Sayyiduna Ja’far Bin Sulayman رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has said: [Once] I saw a dog walking behind Sayyiduna Malik Bin Dinar رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه, I asked: O Abu Yahya! Is it with