enemies of the Prophet did not even enter the presence of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم; presence is achieved through love there.

(The honourable Mufti states the following in explanation of the portion of the Hadees where it is stated, ‘whilst the handler of blacksmith’s bellows will either burn your clothes or you will get a foul odour from him’:) The meaning of this eminent statement is that save yourself from bad company as much as possible, for it destroys one’s religion and Dunya, and adopt good company, for it controls (and balances) one’s world and Hereafter. The company of a snake takes one’s life, and the company of a bad friend destroys one’s faith. (Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 6, p. 591)

Bad company is cause for ruining one’s faith

Sayyiduna ‘Allamah Muhammad Bin Ahmad Zahabi رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه states the following: ‘A man would sit in the company of alcoholics. When the time of his death approached, he was reminded of the Kalimah, whereupon he began to say, ‘Drink and give me to drink also.’ مَعَاذَ الـلّٰـه, he died without reciting the Kalimah (if this is the harm of the company of the alcoholics, then what will the harm of the one who drinks alcohol!)

A chess player was reminded of the Kalimah at the time of his death, so he said, ‘Your king’, and after saying this, he died. (Kitab-ul-Kaba’ir, p. 103, summarised)

Dear Islamic brothers! We come to know that adopting good company brings only benefit, whereas, adopting the company of bad people brings only loss for one’s religion and Dunya, for bad company even ruins a person’s faith.

Generally, people fear fatal, terrifying, and poisonous animals, insects and scary things and are successful in saving themselves from them, and do not even pass by dangerous places. But alas! They find it extremely difficult to avoid a bad company that brings only destruction and ruin. Ah! The misfortune of bad company has prevailed such that one does not even feel like performing worship.

People usually ponder deeply over a matter and take a step only when they see benefit for themselves in it; but when adopting a company, they do not