Good Companionship and the Rights of a Travel Mate

“Once Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) advised me, ‘You must remain pious before Allah, keep your trust, speak the truth, maintain good companionship relations and there is no power without Allah.’”

“If in your association with people you can maintain the upper hand (be more beneficial), you should do so.”

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Of the two companions, the one who is more kind to his companion is more beloved to Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy.’”

“The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘It is of the rights of a traveler on his companions to look after him for three days if he falls ill.”’

“Once, Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) accompanied a taxpaying non- Muslim. The taxpaying non-Muslim asked, ‘Where you want to go, O servant of Allah?’ Amir al-Mu’Minin (a.s.) said, ‘I want to go to al-Kufah.’ The taxpayer’s road changed. Amir al-Mu’Minin (a.s.) kept walking along with him. He asked, ‘Did you not say that you wanted to go to al-Kufah? He said, ‘Yes, that is true.’ The non-Muslim taxpayer said, ‘You have missed the road to al-Kufah.’ The Imam said, ‘Yes, I know that.’ The non-Muslim asked, ‘Why are you then coming with me when you know the road?’ Amir al-Mu’Minin (a.s.) said, ‘This is to observe a part of the companionship rights, that is, escorting one gently on their departing each other. This is what our Holy Prophet has instructed us with.’ The non-Muslim asked, ‘Has he said that?’ The Imam said, ‘Yes, that is what he has said.’ The non-Muslim said, ‘It is true that whoever followed him did so because of his noble deeds. I testify that I have accepted your religion. The non-Muslim came back along with Amir al-Mu’Minin (a.s.) and when he recognized him, he became a Muslim.’”