Companionship
COMPANIONSHIP
WHAT IS IT?
The special bond people have for each other (love, friendship etc.)
The 2 kinds are:
1. Acquaintances
2. Companions and friends
1. Acquaintances: people you know little about or have them as company. Pupils in class etc.
2. Companions: people you spend more time with and whom you are close to. They make you happy and keep care of you etc.
Our beloved Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) has said, “It is better to be alone than in company of the bad, and it is better to be in the company of the good than to be alone. Good company can be a great source of help and support in leading a virtuous life (with Imaan) while bad company leads to sin.”
From above hadith we learn how important it is to be in good company and have good friends.
Some duties of a companion.
1) Greet your friend with a smile.
2) Accept their invitation for something.
3) Visit them when they are ill.
2 www.GardensOfSunnah.co.uk
4) Ask Allah to bless him/her when they sneeze.
5) Always be loyal to them.
6) Ask them to be patient in the hard times ahead.
Remember saying:
“A man is known by the company he keeps” – SayyidinaAli
Companions to avoid are-
1) Hypocrite.
2) Ignorant and foolish.
3) Misery and the stingy.
4) Sinners, smokers, drug addicts and drunkards.
5) The flatterers (false praisers’).
If you notice a companion doing the wrong, it is your duty to guide him.
Our beloved Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: –
“IF YOU SPEND YOUR TIME IN THE COMPANY OF A PERFUME SELLER, YOU WILL SMELL OF PERFUME, BUT IF YOU SPEND TIME WITH A LIQUOR (alcohol) SELLER YOU WILL SMELL FOUL.” [MUSLIM]
The moral of the Hadith is clear; from good company you learn good habits or good behaviour and from bad company you learn bad habits or bad behaviour. 3 www.GardensOfSunnah.co.uk
Acquaintance and Companionship with Non-Muslims
Acquaintance with non-Muslims is acceptable. If you have non-Muslim neighbours, do not ignore them. Remember your duty as a neighbours.
Bear in mind that you should not join them or take part in their religious activities and beliefs. Be careful about eating any of their food as their food may not be Halaal.
Do not ignore your non-Muslim classmates. Always be kind, helpful and polite to them. If they see that a Muslim is kind, they will respect you and will want to know about your religion and may, Insha’Allah, become Muslims.
Here is a true story about genuine companionship-
The Three Companions
Sayyidina Ikramah, Sayyidina Harith and Sayyidina Suhail were close companions who fought with our beloved Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) for the cause of Islam. On this day a strong and fierce battle was going on since dawn.
Sayyidina Ikramah, Sayyidina Harith and Sayyidina Suhail were never far from each other. When Sayyidina Ikramah saw that Sayyidina Suhail was in trouble he went to his aid and fought the enemy. When Sayyidina Suhail spotted an attack upon Sayyidina Harith, he would attack the enemy. It continued in this way for hours.
Finally, each one in turn was wounded. Sayyidina Ikramah received a blow in the head, Sayyidina Suhail was hit in the chest with an arrow and Sayyidina Harith was losing strength due to a severe gash in his side. One by one they collapsed on the battlefield panting and suffering from thirst and exhaustion. 4 www.GardensOfSunnah.co.uk
The water bearer whose job was to seek out the wounded, made his way to Sayyidina Ikramah as fast as he could. As Sayyidina Ikramah raised himself up on his elbow to take a sip of water he saw his friend Sayyidina Suhail lying wounded nearby. “Take the water to Sayyidina Suhail first,” he gasped and passed out.
So, the water bearer went to Sayyidina Suhail with the mug of water. But he had just heard Sayyidina Harith’s voice crying out for water and his heart went out to him. He shook his head as the mug of water reached his lip. “Take this to Sayyidina Harith first,” he murmured.
But as the water bearer reached Sayyidina Harith it was too late. Sayyidina Harith was lying lifeless on the ground.
Turning quickly, the water bearer ran back to Sayyidina Suhail but in those few moments he had also passed away. The water bearer went to Sayyidina Ikramah and as he pressed the mug to his lips, but it was too late. Sayyidina Ikramah was the first from the three to die. Although it was their last moments on earth these three blessed Companions of our beloved Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) died with no thought for themselves but concern (worry) for their companion’s needs.
The above story is an example of the Hadith:
“None of you will have faith till he wishes for his (Muslim) brother what he likes for himself.” (Bukhari)