"It is necessary to adopt good company and also to remain in a good environment. Adopting one without the other is not sufficient. A person could be sitting in the masjid (a good environment), but due to sitting with the wrong people still engage in sin. Similarly, a person may be in good company but due to being in a bad environment still become involved in sin. It is thus evident that we need both, the adoption of good company and good environment."

Courtesy of In Shaykh's Company: a blog maintained by the students of Shaykh Muhammad Saleem Dhorat hafizahullah www.shaykh.org

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Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari (radiallaahu 'anh) reported: I heard the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) 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]

Abu Hurairah (radiallaahu 'anh) reported: I heard the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) saying, "Man follows his friend's religion, you should be careful who you take for friends." [At-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud]

Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri (radiallaahu 'anh) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "Keep only a believer for a companion and let only a pious eat your food." [At-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud]