Seeking Good Company 🪴 A Guide for Muslims
As we journey through life, the company we keep can play a pivotal role in shaping who we are, influencing our choices, and ultimately impacting our deen (faith) too. The teachings of Islam emphasize to us the importance of keeping good company - but how can we navigate finding good company and ensuring we are protecting our faith?
Let’s dive into the importance of good company and some tips and strategies!
💡 Quranic Lesson:
In Surah Al Kahf, we have a beautiful verse that reminds us of the importance of choosing our companions wisely.
وَٱصْبِرْ نَفْسَكَ مَعَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُم بِٱلْغَدَوٰةِ وَٱلْعَشِىِّ يُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَهُۥ ۖ وَلَا تَعْدُ عَيْنَاكَ عَنْهُمْ تُرِيدُ زِينَةَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَلَا تُطِعْ مَنْ أَغْفَلْنَا قَلْبَهُۥ عَن ذِكْرِنَا وَٱتَّبَعَ هَوَىٰهُ وَكَانَ أَمْرُهُۥ فُرُطًۭا {٢٨}
And patiently stick with those who call upon their Lord morning and evening, seeking His pleasure. Do not let your eyes look beyond them, desiring the luxuries of this worldly life. And do not obey those whose hearts We have made heedless of Our remembrance, who follow ˹only˺ their desires and whose state is ˹total˺ loss [18:28].
✏️ Prophetic Guidance:
Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet (ﷺ) said,
الرَّجُلُ عَلَى دِينِ خَلِيلِهِ فَلْيَنْظُرْ أَحَدُكُمْ مَنْ يُخَالِلُ
“A man is upon the religion of his best friend, so let one of you look at whom he befriends.”
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2378
🌻 Tips to Seeking Good Company:
Quality over Quantity: A few sincere friends who share your values can be much more impactful than a large social circle. It involves more conscious and deliberate effort that can keep you in check and aligned with your faith values. Don’t be too focused on the “numbers”.
Define Your Values: Before seeking friends, define your own values and priorities. You need to understand who you are and who you want to become, to know what you’re looking for!
Encouragement of Spiritual Growth: A good companion should motivate you to strengthen your relationship with Allah, perform your prayers and increase in acts of kindness and goodness. And don’t forget to strive to be that type of companion as well!
Avoid Negative Influences: Be mindful of friendships that may sow seeds of doubt, and discourage you or hinder your spiritual growth. Distance yourself from those who steer you away from the path of righteousness. Negative influences may be subtle - slooooowly impacting you gradually, so be conscious of those subtle impacts.
Community Involvement: Engage with your local Muslim community. Attend events, volunteer for community initiatives, take part in learning circles, etc. This can be a great way to meet like-minded people and strengthen community bonds.
Be Patient: Building quality connections take time. Be patient, don’t rush the process, and allow friendships to develop organically over time.
Regular Self-Reflection: Regularly reflect on your own character and the impact your companions are having on your faith. Assess whether your goals are aligned and if they are sources of encouragement and uplifting you in your spiritual journey.
May Allah bless you with good company who become your neighbors in Jannah! 🌱
with love and duaas,
Ghena
