"A friend in need is a friend indeed!" heron's voice echoed to the entire room."Ehm, sorry my brother!" someone's voice brought him to mind, "Please, don't get too closer to the mic!" a voice whispered. Heron turned around, it was Shama,' smiling. Heron nodded. Walking down from the podium, Shama' stopped, "Oh ... and... don't forget to greet with a salaam and the opening kalimah!" Heron nodded again, "Of course, I was translating the theme!" Shama' smiled, then went down, hurried.After greeting with a salaam and conveyed the opening kalimah, he got on with, "Though nothing is more common than to hear people speak about friendship, it is scarce and so hard, to find a true friend, who will assist us, in the time of danger and difficulty. All the declarations of kindness which are made to an experienced man, though accompanied by a squeeze of the hand, and a solemn asseveration, should leave no greater impression upon his mind, than the whistling of the hollow breeze which brushes one’s ear with an unmeaning salute, and is presently gone.The point is, never trust a friend who deserts you, in times of trouble. Let's see it in a clearer picture. Listen to this,One morning, two Bedouin guys, were setting up from Vanice to Rome. They headed to Rome by train, a slower train. It took six hours to Rome, but, the trip, seemed not to go on smoothly. The train had to stopped, because of a technical problem. They decided to wait in the dining car, having their lunch. They sat vis-a-vis and, not far from their seat, another two guys, from the clothes they wore, it looked, they were Pakistanis. Having their coffees, one Pakistanis told his guy, "Humans have always been social creatures and, in need of friends and companions. Much of our lives, is spent in interaction with others. For us Muslims, who are living in a society where we are clearly a minority, the issue of choosing right companions is essential for preserving our Deen. Befriending righteous and virtuous Muslims is an essential means for staying on the Straight Path. Strong individuals, on the other hand, are the core of a strong community, something that Muslims should always strive for.We all know that, we were created for a specific purpose, and that Allah, the Most High, has given us life in order to test us. None of us, will deny that we are here for a relatively short period of time, and that we shall meet Allah, one Day.Once we know our purpose and our goal, we should seek ways to achieve them, so as to benefit our own selves. All of us believe that Allah has sent us a Messenger (ﷺ) and revealed to us the Qur'an, the Best of Wisdom.Instead of making friends with the misguided ones, we should befriend the righteous, and treat the rest in a gracious and just manner. Staying on a sufficient distance is necessary, yet treating everybody in a noble and kind manner is required.The Prophet (ﷺ) said,إِنَّمَا مَثَلُ الْجَلِيسِ الصَّالِحِ وَالْجَلِيسِ السَّوْءِ كَحَامِلِ الْمِسْكِ وَنَافِخِ الْكِيرِ فَحَامِلُ الْمِسْكِ إِمَّا أَنْ يُحْذِيَكَ وَإِمَّا أَنْ تَبْتَاعَ مِنْهُ وَإِمَّا أَنْ تَجِدَ مِنْهُ رِيحًا طَيِّبَةً وَنَافِخُ الْكِيرِ إِمَّا أَنْ يُحْرِقَ ثِيَابَكَ وَإِمَّا أَنْ تَجِدَ رِيحًا خَبِيثَةً"“Verily, the parable of good company and a bad company, is only that of a seller of musk and a blacksmith. The seller of musk, will give you some perfume, you will buy some, or you will notice a good smell. As for the blacksmith, he will burn your clothes, or you will notice a bad smell.” [Muttafaqun Alayhi (authenticity agreed upon) according to Al-Bukhari and Muslim]Instead of sitting with those who do evil, commit a lot of sins and other bad deeds, having companions who are good, who have noble manners, piety, knowledge and good culture, will grant us, their virtue. A scholar said, "Keeping good company with the pious, results in attainment of beneficial knowledge, noble manners and righteous actions, whereas keeping company with the wicked, prevents all of that."Ali Ibn Abi Talib, radhiyallahu 'anhu, says that any friendship for other than Allah, is turned into enmity, except what was in it for Allah. Two who are friends for Allah's sake; one of them dies and is given good news that he will be granted al-Jannah, so he remembered his friend and he supplicated for him, saying, "O Allah, my friend used to command me to obey You and to obey Your Prophet (ﷺ), and used to command me to do good, and to forbid me from doing evil. And he told me that I will meet You. O Allah, do not let him go astray after me, until you show him what you have just shown me, until You are satisfied with him, just like You are satisfied with me." So he is told, "Had you known what is written for you friend, would you have laughed a lot and cried a little." Then his friend dies and their souls are gathered, and both are asked to express their opinions about each other. So each one of them says to his friend, "You were the best brother, the best companion and the best friend."And when on of two disbelieving friends dies, and he is given tidings of Hellfire, he remembered his friend and he said, "O Allah, my friend used to order me to disobey You, and disobey Your Prophet (ﷺ), and commanded me to do evil, and forbade me from doing good, and told me that I would not meet You. O Allah, do not guide him after me, until you show him what you have just shown me and until you are dissatisfied with him just like You are dissatisfied with me." Then the other disbelieving friend dies, and their souls are gathered, and both are asked to give their opinions about each other. So each one says to his friend, "You were the worst brother, the worst companion and the worst friend.""A believer is the mirror of his brother," and if he sees any faults in the other believer, he draws his attention to it, helps him to give it up and helps him wipe away any evil that he may have. Anyone who criticises you, cares about your friendship. Anyone who makes light of your faults, cares nothing about you."Our two guys, paid attention to the Pakistanis, word by word. And so, they mutually promised, to stand by each other, in any danger, they should lend each other aid.An announcement was heard, the train would stop for another four hours. Those who didn't mind to wait, were welcomed in the diner car, whilst those who wish to continue their journey, were allowed to walk to the train station, for it was nearby. However, they were warned to be careful, as a bear had escaped.Our two guys decided to walk. So, they proceed, but had not gone far, a savage Bear rushed out from a thicket and stood in their path. One of the Bedouin, a light, nimble fellow, got up into a tree.The other, fell flat on his face and held his breath. The Bear came up and smelled at him, thought he was dead, went off again somewhere.The man in the tree came clown, and rejoining his companion, asked him, with a mischievous smile, what was the wonderful secret that the Bear had whispered into his ear. “Why,” replied the other, sulkily, “He told me, to take care for the future, and not to put any confidence in such cowardly rascals, as you are.”Heron concluded, "Misfortune, tests the sincerity of friends. Never trust a friend who leaves you when trouble approaches. He that succours our necessity, by a well-timed assistance, though it were not ushered in by previous compliments, will ever after be looked upon as our friend and protector; and, in so much a greater degree, as the favour was unasked and unpromised; as it was not extorted by importunities on the one side, nor led in by a numerous attendance of promises on the other. Words are nothing, till they are fulfilled by actions; and therefore, we should not suffer ourselves to be deluded by a vain hope, and reliance upon them. And Allah knows best."And with a soft 'kaark' call, he hummed,Don't ever be lonelyRemember, I'll always careWherever you may beRemember, I will be thereDon't ever be lonelyRemember, I will be there *)
References :
- Isa al-Bosnawi, Islam & The Concept of Friendship, Islam.com
- Samuel Croxall, DD, Fables of Aesop and Others, Simon Probasco
*) "I Will Be There" by Katie Melua
