Do you sometimes feel that no matter how hard you try to gain eman, a moment comes when all of your efforts go in vain and you feel like on the same low level of eman? If such a thing happens with you a lot, then maybe you should check your company of friends. Allah Almighty has described clearly in the Holy Quran about the criteria for having friends.
"And keep yourself patiently with those who call on their Lord morning and afternoon, seeking His Face, and let not your eyes overlook them, desiring the pomp and glitter of the life of the world; and obey not him whose heart We have made heedless of Our Remembrance, one who follows his own lusts and whose affair (deeds) has been lost." (18:28)
Many times it is observed that a person makes a lot of effort all day or maybe all week to gather a lot of eman, but it takes 1 meeting with some friend whose company makes all this effort go in vain. This is the reason Allah Almighty told us to keep company with those people who remind us of Allah and our true purpose in life. Allah Almighty strictly told us to avoid those who have forgotten Allah.
Rasul Allah sallalaho alayhi wassalam said:
The likeness of a righteous companion and an evil companion is that of one who carries musk and one who works a bellows. With the one who carries musk, either he will give you some or you will buy from him or you will notice a pleasant fragrance from him. With the one who work a bellows, either he will burn your clothes or you will notice a foul odour from him.” [Sahih al-Bukhaari Hadith 5534; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2628)
What a great example indeed by our beloved Prophet sallalaho alayhi wassalam.
Now some of us will have a great excuse for hanging out with bad company. "Well i want to correct my friends." For me this is a trap of Shaytan the accursed. Allah knows best who maybe changed through you, but most of the times it is the opposite. Bad company will have a lot of effect on u and will influence you, rather than you influencing them. A bad friend will either make us like him/her, if not then atleast lower our eman. A bad friend will definitely have some influence on us. It is impossible that a person has taqwa and at the same time has bad company also. It is impossible that a person wants to be steadfast while being in bad company. Some of us become very apologetic and want to please our friends.
But Rasul Allah sallalaho alayhi wassalam said:
“Whoever wants to please the people by displeasing Allah, Allah will be displeased with him and will make the people displeased with him also. And whoever wants to please Allah by displeasing the people, Allah will be pleased by him and will make the people pleased with him also.” (Tirmidhi)
So watch out and save yourself before there comes a Day when:
"no friend will ask of a friend." (70:10)
"Everyman, that Day, will have enough to make him careless of others." (80:37)
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