Qualities of a Friend

[strivingobserver98]

Imaam Ghazaali (rahmatullah alayh) mentions five qualities which should be searched for before befriending a person. These are:

1. Intelligence. If a person lacks intelligence, he should never be befriended. There is no benefit in such friendship. In fact, the friendship of an ignorant person will prove dangerous, destructive and bring heartache in the process.

2. Good moral character. An evil character eclipses a man's intelligence.

3. Piety. The friend chosen should not be a faasiq. A man who has no fear for Allah Ta'ala cannot be relied on. He will involve his friend in disaster and betray him.

4. He should not be a bid'ati. Association with a bid'ati will incline one towards bid'ah and water down one's opposition to this evil. The calamity and misfortune of bid'ah are contagious.

5. He should not have greed for worldly wealth. The company of a man of greed is a fatal poison.

[soheil1]

Imam Ali (:ra:) stated: لاَ تَصْحَبِ اْلشَّرِيْرَ فَإِنَّ طَبْعَكَ يَسْرِقُ مِنْ طَبْعِهِ شَرَّاً وَ أَنْتَ لاَ تَعْلَمُ. “Avoid the company of the wicked; verily your nature will snatch a wickedness and you would not be aware of it.”
Imam Ja’far Al-Sadiq (:ra:) stated:
عَلَيْكَ أَنْ تَصْحَب ذَااْلعَقْلِ وَ إِنْ لَمْ تَجِدْ آَرَمَهُ وَ لَكِنِ اْنْتَفِعْ بِعَقْلِه
“Keep the company of a wise person. If you do not benefit from his generosity, you would, however, gain from his intellect.”

[soheil1]

Imam Hassan Muj'taba (:rh:): " يَا بُنَيَّ ! إِيَّاكَ وَ مُصَادَقَةَ اْلأَحْمَقِ، فَإِنَّهُ يُرِيْدُ أَنْ يَنْفَعَكَ فَيَضُرَّكَ “Oh my son! Avoid the friendship of a fool, as he would tend to benefit you but he would harm you in the process; وَ إِيَّاكَ وَ مُصَادَقَةَ الْبَخِيلِ ؛ فَإِنَّهُ يَقْعُدُ عَنْكَ أَحْوَجَ مَا تَكُونُ إِلَيْهِ And avoid the friendship of a miser as he would refrain from you when you need him; وَ إِيَّاكَ وَ مُصَادَقَةَ الْفَاجِرِ ، فَإِنَّهُ يَبِيْعُكَ بِا لتَّا فِهِ ، And avoid the friendship of a sinner as he would sell you for nothing, وَ إِيَّاكَ وَ مُصَادَقَةَ الْكَذَّابِ فَإِنَّهُ آَالسَّرَابِ يُقَرِّبُ عَلَيْكَ الْبَعِيْدَ وَ يُبَعِّدُ عَلَيْكَ الْقَرِيْبَ.” إمام على بن أبى طالب ( ع) And avoid the friendship of a liar as he is like a mirage, for he would make far things look near and near things far.”

[lonewolf007]

the emphasis on friends, good company is so important in islam, subhana'Allah

good reminder brother, we really should be careful who we befriend