Commenting on the verse about friends turning to enemies on the Day of Judgement, Shaykh Muhammad Saleem Dhorat said that friendships can be one of four types.

1. ROOHAANI: in this type of friendship there is a spiritual connection which originates from the time when all the “rooh” of all the creation were in “aalame arwah” or the world of spirits. The roohs of all the people were present there in great groups where the roohs of the good and the pious inclined towards each other as did the roohs of the bad and the evil.
That is the reason why sometimes when you meet someone who is a total stranger, you incline towards them and feel as though you’ve known them for a long time while there is no connection with someone in your own neighbourhood, whom you have known all your life. The Ambiya AS and the pious are included in this category.

2. QALBI: this type of friendship is to do with the heart, whereby you feel love for the pleasure of Allah Ta’ala, i.e. you feel love for someone with ‘Ilm, taqwa etc. and wealth doesn’t come into it even if they are rich.

3. AQLI: a friendship based on the intellect and worldly gain i.e. business partners. There are more of these friendships in the world then the first two. This type of friendship can become beneficial if the relationship develops to a Qalbi friendship based on Taqwa.

4. SHAHWAANI: is friendships based on fulfilling desires, i.e. physical desires, wealth, name, fame etc.

The first two types of friendship are based on Taqwa and they will lead people to Jannah. The third type can become beneficial if Taqwa enters into the relationship, while the fourth one will lead one to punishment in the Hereafter. Therefore love each other only for Allah Ta’ala. Refrain from ill feelings towards each other and especially the people of ‘ilm and Taqwa.