Those Whose Association and Friendship Is Undesirable

“When Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) were to take his place on the pulpit he would say, ‘A Muslim, must avoid friendship with three kinds of people: A bold-faced indecent, an idiot and a liar. A bold-faced- indecent person attempts to make his acts seem attractive to you and loves that you behave like he does. Fie does not assist you in your religious matters and the matters of the hereafter. Closeness to him is injustice, hardheartedness, and his coming and going is disgrace for you. ‘An idiotic person does not indicate anything good for you, nor is there any hope in him to remove any bit of evil from you even if he may try his best. Perhaps he may want to benefit you, instead he only harms you. His death is better than his living, his silence is better than his speaking, and his being at a distance is better than his being nearby. ‘The liar is one with whom you can never have a happy life. Fie carries your words out and others’ words in to you. Whenever he may run out of words he then mixes them with others so much so that even when speaking the truth is not believed and he causes differences among people with animosity to sow envy in the hearts. You must be pious before Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Floly, and look after your own souls.’”

2. In the Hadith of ‘Abd al-‘Ala’ from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) it is said that Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) said: “It is not proper for a Muslim man to become a friend of an indecent person; he tries to make his deeds seem attractive to him and loves that one to behave like him (indecent). He does not assist him in his religious matters or the matters of the hereafter. The coming and going of an indecent person is a disgrace to one.”

“It is not proper for a Muslim man to become friends with an indecent, an idiot and a liar.”

“Jesus, son of Mary has said, ‘An evil companion commits injustice and an evil friend brings destruction. Consider who to become friends with.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) once said to me, ‘O ‘Ammar, if you like bounties bring you delight, kindness becomes complete, and the affairs of life well- organized you then should not associate with the slaves and the lowly persons. If you trust them, they betray you, if they speak, they lie to you. If you may suffer a misfortune, they leave you out. If they promise you, they disregard it.’”

6. He has also said, ‘I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying: “The virtuous ones’ love of other virtuous ones is a rewarding deed for them. Indecent ones loving the virtuous ones is a credit for the virtuous ones. Indecent ones’ hating the virtuous ones beautifies the virtuous ones. Virtuous one’s hating the indecent ones is a loss to the indecent ones.”

“My father, Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.) once said to me, ‘My son, look for five kinds of people. Do not befriend them, speak to or accompany them on a road.’ 1 then asked, ‘O father, who are they? Define them for me.’ He said, ‘Never befriend a liar; he is like a mirage. He shows what is far very near and what is near, in fact, very far. Never befriend a sinful person; he may sell you for a meal or even less. Never befriend a stingy person; he betrays you in the matter of his property at a time when you need help urgently. Never befriend an idiotic person; he may intend to benefit you, instead he causes you injuries. Never befriend one who has failed to maintain good relations with relatives; I have found him condemned in the book of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, in three places. Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said: “If you ignore the commands of Allah, would you then also spread evil in the land and sever the ties of kinship? (47:22) Allah has condemned these people and made them deaf, dumb, and blind.” (47:23) ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, “Those who disregard their covenant with Allah after He has taken such a pledge from them, who sever the proper relations that Allah has commanded them to establish, and those who spread evil in the land will have Allah’s condemnation instead of reward and will face the most terrible end.” (13:25) ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, has said, “. . . who break their established covenant with Him and the relations He has commanded to be kept and who spread evil in the land. These are the ones who lose a great deal.”’” (2:27)

“I heard al-Muharibi narrate from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) from his ancestors (a.s.) who has said, ‘The Messenger of Allah has said, “Association with three kinds of people deadens the heart (reason): association with the lowly, speaking to women and sitting with the wealthy.”’”

“Luqman (mentioned in Chapter 3 1 of the Holy Quran), peace be upon him, said to his son, ‘Do not become very close (to people), lest you become the farthest from them (frequent involvement may cause friction and disturbance) and do not keep very far in total isolation and oblivion. Every moving thing loves its kind and the sons of Adam love their kind. Do not spread your goods when there is demand. Just as there is no friendship between the wolf and the sheep so also there is no friendship between a virtuous person and an evildoer. Whoever moves close to asphalt and tar, it will smear him out so also is association with an evildoer whose manners may spread to his associates. Whoever likes to dispute will be abused. Whoever enters places of evil activities will be accused (of evil doing). Whoever associates with an evildoer will not remain safe. Whoever does not control his tongue will regret.”’

“Do not befriend blasphemers and do not associate with them; people may consider you as one of them. The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘A man follows the religion of his friend and associates.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘Never befriend an idiotic person; the more delightful you may become from his side the closer it will get to your misfortune.’”