The Importance Of Keeping The Company Of Good People

"O you who believe, fear Allah and be among the truthful ones" (9:119) It is astonishing how people can influence others simply by being in each other's company. Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari (ra) reported: I heard the Prophet (saw) saying, "The similitude of good company and that of bad company is that of the owner of musk and of the one blowing the bellows. The owner of musk would either offer you some free of charge, or you would buy it from him, or you smell its pleasant fragrance; and as for the one who blows the bellows (i.e., the blacksmith), he either burns your clothes or you smell a repugnant smell". [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]. Commentary: This Hadith enjoins that one should sit in the company of the pious persons and avoid the impious ones because the former has the quality of a perfume seller and the latter of a blacksmith. In the association of pious men, one stands to gain all the time and ultimately becomes like them. In bad company one is out-and-out a loser and can never hope to gain any benefit from them. Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri (ra) reported: The Prophet (saw) said, "Keep only a believer for a companion and let only a pious eat your food". [At-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud]. Commentary: This Hadith forbids Muslims from befriending infidels and stresses that they should establish a bond of friendship and fraternity with the pious persons only. Abu Hurairah (ra) reported: I heard the Prophet (saw) saying, "Man follows his friend's religion, you should be careful who you take for friends". [At-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud]. Commentary: This Hadith also induces one to avoid the company of impious people and seek the association of the pious persons.