Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) stated, "The believer is like
a mirror to other believers (in truthfulness)." Like a
mirror, your friend gives you an honest image.
He forgives your mistakes, but does not hide or
exaggerate your strengths and weaknesses.
Once the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) was asked,
"What person can be the best friend?" "He who helps
you remember Allah (SWT), and reminds you when you
forget Him," the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh), counseled.
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) was further asked,
"Who is the best among people?" Prophet Mohammad (pbuh)
replied, "He who, when you look at him, you remember
Allah (SWT)". Such a friend reflects qualities of love, mercy,
honesty, service, patience, optimism, professionalism,
and the entire lifestyle taught by Islam.
Imam Ali (as) Says: "The poor is one who does not
have any friend."
Imam Ali (as) Says: "Live amongst people in such a manner
that if you die they weep over you and if you are alive
they crave for your company (friendship)."
Imam Ali (as) Says: "Friendship transfers a stranger
in to a relative."
Imam Ali (as) Says: "Do not choose as your friend
the enemy of your friend."
Imam Ali (as) Says: "Two true friends are a single soul in
different bodies."
Imam Ali (as) Says: "He who discards a friend for slight
offence risks loneliness."
Imam Ali (as) Says: "In time of distress a man can
distinguished between his friend and enemy."
Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) Says: "Be careful to have
truthful friends and try to obtain them, for they are
your support when you are in welfare, and your advocator
when you have misfortune."
Imam Ali (as) Says: "Be not friend with a fool, for he will
harm you while meaning to do good to you."
Imam Ali (as) Says: "It is better to listen to a wise enemy
than to seek counsel from a foolish friend."
Imam Ali (as) Says: "Keep away from friendship of liar
surely he will show you as near what is far from you and
will show as far what is near you."
Imam Ali (as) Says: "O' Kumayl! Say what is just in any
condition. Be friends with the righteous and avoid
the evil doers, stay away from the hypocrites and
do not accompany the treacherous."
Imam Sajjad (as) Says: "Beware of the companionship of
the sinful, and helping of the unjust."
Imam Ali (as) Says: "If a friend envies you, then he is not
a true friend."
Imam Ali (as) Says: "Verily, there are three (types of)
friends for a Muslim,
1) The friend who says: I am with you whether you are alive
or dead', and this is his deed.
2) The friend who says: I am with you unto the threshold
of your grave and then I will leave you', and this is his children.
3) The friend who says: I will be with you until when you die',
and this is his wealth which will belong to the inheritors
when he dies."
Imam Ali (as) Says: "He who is deserted by friends and
relatives will often find help and sympathy from strangers."
Imam Hassan (as) Says: "Befriend people in the same manner
you would like them to befriend you."
Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) Says: "Be the friend of him who may
grace you, not of one whom you are better than."
(Viz. make friends with ones who are higher than you so
that you progress.)
Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) Says: "My most beloved brother is
he who (makes me aware of) my faults."
Imam Hassan Askari (as) Says: "Those who advise their
friend secretly are respecting them, and those who advise
them openly are humiliating them."
Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) has narrated from his father
Imam Muhammad Baqir (as) who said his father
Imam Sajjad (as) stated: "O' my son! Beware of five (groups)
and do not seek companionship (friendship) with them,
do not speak with them, and do not make friends
with them on (the) way."
Then, Imam Muhammad Baqir (as) asked his father
who they were and might he introduces them to him.
Imam Sajjad (as) responded:
1) "Beware of and do not associate with the one who tells lies.
He is as a mirage which makes near for you what is far,
and makes far to you what is near."
2) "Beware of and do not associate with an immoral person,
because he will sell you at the price of a morsel or less
than that."
3) "Beware of and do not associate with a miser because he
will deprive you of his wealth when you are seriously in need
of it."
4) "Beware of and do not associate with a fool, because
he wants to be of avail to you but he harms you."
5) "Beware of and do not associate with the one who
disregards his kinfolks, because I found him (such a person)
cursed in the Book Allah, Almighty and Glorious, in three
occurrences." They are:
(Sura Al-Baqarah, 2:27; Sura Ar-Rad, 13:25; and
Sura Muhammad, 47:22).
