The whirl of life is such a strange thing. Everything that has a beginning has an end, similar to our lives, the same thing applies to things that revolve around us- nothing last. A beautiful example that we can take is the flower which is very exquisite when it blossoms and later on it withers, its beauty fades and nothing remains of it at the end. Same applies to people who come and go in our life.

We come across so many people through this transient journey and yet not all of them will stay. Allah chooses whom we shall meet, whom we shall not, who shall stay and who shall leave. Through this understandable process, all these comings and goings play a salient role in our experience and how it will shape us in some way or the other.

Those people can bring a contemporaneous change in our life be it for the best or the worst. With some we might have a brawny bond, and some can just be partial and some simply just do not matter at all. There are some who shall lend you a shoulder to lean on and who shall always encourage you to remain firm in Deen and there are some who shall exult over your misfortunes.

But from all of them we learn something. Undeniable that it is, through everything that we go through, there is a lesson for us. For everything that we go through Allah; Al-Hakim teaches us something.

More so, who we befriend is crucial. A friend or the people we spend time with should be the ones who will indulge us in the remembrance of the Sovereignty of Allah SWT; these people are more worthy of our friendship and our company.  Selecting the right friends or the right companions is immanent to safeguard our Deen.

“A person is likely to follow the faith of his friend, so look whom you befriend.” (Abu Dawood and at-Tirmithi)

True friends are to help you and not to destroy you. A true friend will like for you what he likes for himself/herself. Someone in whose presence your Imaan finds a boost, you may rest assured that you are in the best of company and hold tight to these kinds of persons and treasure their friendships, treasure what you will learn from them and treasure their companionship.

When we help each other in sins, Shaitwaan builds its nest in that relationship and finally the friendship dash to pieces. The bond and love that once was cultivated vanish into thin air and enmity unfolds on itself.

Let go of the wrong people and hold tight to the right people. Allah SWT has given us the ability to discern between good and bad, so choose wisely with whom you socialize.

Ibn Taymiyyah which says:

“When people help one another in sin and transgression, they finish by hating each other.” – Ibn Taymiyyah

A scholar has said: “To seal a friendship for Allah’s sake indicates the obligation of establishing relationships of love and trust for His sake; this is a friendship for the sake of Allah. It also indicates that simple affection is not enough here; indeed what is meant is a love based upon alliance. This entails assistance, honor, and respect. It means being with those whom you love both in word and deed.”

May Allah SWT make us amongst the Righteous. May Allah gives us friends/companions who will help us to enjoin the good and forbid the bad and who will help us to seek Allah’s pleasure and to attain Jannah.