FRIENDSHIP

Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim Alhamdulillahi rabbil-‘alamin was-Salatu was-Salam ‘ala Sayyidil-Mursalin wa ‘ala ‘Alihi wa Sahbihi Ajma’in. As Salamu 'alaikum wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh.

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Q1: What does friendship mean to you? What responsibilities or rights do you feel towards your friends?

Humans are social creatures by nature, and they require companions and friends. Because most of our lives are dependent on interactions with others, man is compelled to live in society and with other people. In Islam, friendship is regarded as one of the Divine blessings that can help one overcome loneliness and solitude. Islam places a high value on sociability and friendship. The concept of friendship is heavily emphasized in the holy Quran because it plays an important role in shaping an individual's life and influencing the path that will be chosen in life. Similarly, the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) and his Ahl al-Bayt (a.s.) have clearly stated its importance, criteria for choosing a friend, characteristics of a good friend, and the rights of a friend on numerous occasions. For instance, in Quran surat Az-Zukhruf (43:67) Allah (s.w.t.) says: “Close friends, that Day, will be enemies to each other, except for the righteous”. The Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) while explaining the impact of friends says: “Man is influenced by the faith of his friends. Therefore, be careful of whom you befriend.” (Allamah Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar, Vol. 74, P. 192).

Furthermore, as regard of responsibilities in a Hadeeth from Sahih Muslim, The Messenger of Allah (p.b.u.h) stated that: “Rights of the Muslim upon other Muslim are 6, and those are:

• The first right is to welcome his Muslim brother with the Islamic greeting: ‘Assalamu alaikum’

• The second right is to accept an invitation extended by a Muslim brother to any halal event or gathering

• The third is to give advice whenever it is sought

• The fourth is to reply with ‘Yarhamukallah’ when a Muslim brother sneezes and says ‘Alhamdulillah’

• The fifth is to visit an ailing Muslim

• The sixth and final right is to attend the funeral prayer and funeral upon his death.

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Q2: What do you think are the most important things in choosing a friend? What problems do you think having many or very few friends causes?

Islam places a high value on the selection of a friend in life. It is expected that one use his/her judgment in a non-emotional manner and try to set aside the criterion for assessing his/her true worth for this purpose. One must be aware of one's shortcomings and weaknesses, as well as one's ideas, feelings, dislikes, and infirmities. Finally, one must discover the human merits and desirable qualities that he/she carries in the depths of his/her spirit in order to benefit from his/her outstanding virtues. As a result of the great good or bad influences friends can have on each other's characters and personalities, it is critical for every man of reason to choose friends who are characterized by good mannerism and behaviour. Meanwhile, according to the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) and his companions, a Muslim should avoid the following types of people as friends: transgressors, hypocrites, and fools, liars, sinful, stingy, and disrespectful to his /her relatives. Similarly, non-Muslims should not be considered close friends or allies.

The wisest way to select someone as a friend is to search attributes of Allah (s.w.t.), since it is surely known that if we love some it is just because of the reflection of the beauty of Allah (s.w.t.)’s attribute on that person.

In addition, it is really vital to know that a person ultimately approaches to his friend in a manner, characteristics, intellectual way and what not. Thus, a friend should be the one that you want to be.

Imam Gazali stated that: “5 criterias that we need to seek in friend should be like this,

• Intelligence,

• Good character,

• Righteousness,

• Absence of greed,

• Truthfulness.

Finally, we would love to finish this report with a hadith taken from Al-Bukhari and Muslim. The Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) says: “None of you will attain (perfect) faith until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself”.