_Imaam Ibn Qudaamah Al-Maqdisi -rahimahullaah-_
Said:
*QUALITIES OF FRIENDS*
The Messenger of Allāh sallallāhu alayhi wasallam said:
_”المرء على دين خليله فلينظر أحدكم من يخالل”_
_” A man follows the religion of his close friend, thus, let each of you look who he takes as close friend.”_
Transmitted and recorded by Imām At-Tirmidhi in his ‘Sunan'(7/49). Shaykh Al Albāni declared it as Hasan in ‘Sahihu Al Jāmi’#3539.
Know verily that, it is not befitting for one to take everyone as close friends. Rather, one has to choose certain sets of people as friends considering some attributes or qualities.
Those qualities depends on the benefits one is interested in obtaining from those friends of his. It may be benefits of the worldly affairs only like accumulating wealth or getting certain position in the community and this is not our primary motive.
And the benefits may be that of the deen, and this combines different goals such as benefitting from knowledge and working with it.
In addition, through friendship, one may safeguard his deen from the misguided people and he can also attain self content through them. One may also enjoy Ash-shafāa'(intercession) in the Hereafter by taking pious people as friends. In this regard, the Salaf used to say:
_”استكثروا من الإخوان، فإن لكل مؤمن شفاعة”_
_”Increase the numbers of your brothers(i.e pious ones), for every believer enjoys intercession(on the Day of Resurrection).”_
*20th Al Muharram, 1438H.*
Allāhu A’alam! Bārakallāhu fēkum!
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