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Fatwa CenterTips for Avoiding Bad Companions
Question
Please tell me about the best means to keep me away from the company of bad friends and their evil deeds. Although I show much regret for spending my time with them, some time later I return to them to such an extent that I think myself to be bewitched or haunted.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
No doubt, keeping the company of bad friends is a great risk and an evident affliction that exposes one to different forms of evil and danger in the worldly life and the Hereafter. It suffices us to mention that the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, warned us of bad companion by saying: "The example of a good pious companion in comparison with a bad one is like that of the musk seller and the bellow blower. A musk seller will either give you some musk as a gift, or you will buy musk from him or, at least, enjoy its good smell. While the bellow blower will either burn your clothes or you will get a bad smell from him." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
The Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said, “Man always follows the religion of his friend, so let anyone of you consider whom he takes as a friend and companion.”
Thus, it is due on a Muslim to beware of bad friends and keep away from them. In order to do so, the following steps should be made:
1. To change the environment and leave the place where the bad friends gather and even the city, the neighborhood, or the street where those evil ones whom one likes to get rid of live.
2. To search for a good company who aid the person adhere to the truth and guidance, because the believer is weak when alone even though he is strong when with his brothers.
3. To multiply acts of worship and refrain from major sins and destructive misdeeds. Without a doubt, if one multiplies acts of worship and good things, then he will love them and those who do it and dislike sin, wickedness and disobedience, by Allah’s permission.
4. To engage in learning and teaching beneficial knowledge, reciting and learning the noble Quran, and filling free time with acts of worship. That is one of the best means to get rid of a bad company.
5. To meditate over the evil that one receives from mixing with the bad company. Without a doubt, this helps him get rid of it. For instance, the friends with whom one commits sin and the companions of worldly benefits will be the first to abandon their friend on the Day of Resurrection. In confirmation, Allah, the Almighty, says (what means): {Close friends, that Day, will be enemies to each other, except for the righteous.} [Quran 45:67]
Additionally, if a Muslim who adheres to Islamic teachings or is likely to do so mixes with the wicked, then he will be categorized with them and counted of them even though he does not approve of their conduct. Their companionship also leads to sin.
6. We advise you, our noble brother, to repent of what has passed and to decide to change your state for the better. You should invoke Allah, the Almighty, more often to lead you to a good company that can guide you to good and help you adhere to it and to keep you away from evil and its people. Also, you should know that the most important point is that one should feel that Allah, the Exalted, is watching over him and sees him in all states and at all times. If one has such feeling, as it should be, then it will be easy for him to keep away from evil and its people and engage, instead, in all that which he knows to be pleasing to Allah, the Exalted.
Allah knows best.
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