them into the jaws of death. Consequently, those who adopt a bad company become a sign of admonition [i.e. warning] for the society.

We have just heard about the admonitory death of the individual who would stay in the company of gamblers. We ought to stay away from bad company, especially the evil company of gamblers, for the one who becomes involved in gambling not only squanders all of his hard-earned money, but faces many other losses also.

Worldly harms of gambling

The following is stated on page 24 of volume 3 of Tafseer Siraat-ul-Jinaan:

1.   Gambling creates hatred, animosity and enmity among gamblers, and this sometimes leads to murder and bloodshed.

2.   Gambling causes the wealthy individual to become poor in an instant; the prosperous home falls into destitution, a well-off individual becomes needy of food and drink, his respect in society comes to an end, and he has no value or honour left in the society.

3.   In the greed of profit, the gambler becomes compelled to take out loans, and sometimes even usurious loans, and when he cannot repay his debt or cannot take out a loan, then he becomes involved in thievery. Ultimately, the gambler becomes surrounded by calamities from all directions such that he eventually ends up committing suicide. (Siraat-ul-Jinaan, vol. 3, p. 24)

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب                            صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

Dear Islamic brothers! It is stated that اَلصُّحْبَۃُ مُؤََثِّرَۃٌ, i.e. ‘Company has its effect’. What can be said about the fortunate one who acquires a good company; through the blessings of a good company he begins to adopt good habits and gains deliverance from bad habits, he attains a passion for performing good deeds and gains a standing in society.

However, if a person مَعَاذَ الـلّٰـه gains a bad company, then consider it to be the