This means friendship isn’t made up of just one big thing but millions of little things made together perfectly.

An individual comes across many people throughout their life. Those who are near to us become our companions. We may have a big group in school, college or the workplace, but we realise that we can rely only on some of them with whom we share a sweet, genuine relationship called friendship. Friendship can be between people irrespective of age, religion or family background. Moreover, it also shares a friend-like bond between a father and son, a mother and daughter, etc. Friends are a vital part of our lives. Initially, they were strangers to us, but they may have built a level above all other relationships over time. Friendship is one such relationship that an individual chooses. A friendship bond can help issues such as religious conflicts, violence, poverty, illiteracy, etc. Two good friends can take visionary steps to create a better career, life, and, indirectly, a better world. Friends boost our self-confidence, and a wise one will help us find our life purpose. They offer companionship and hence prevent loneliness. The first Sunday of August in India is celebrated as Friendship Day every year. In this corner of knowledge, Allah and His messenger have taught us how to approach friendship for the sake of Allah.

Islam has placed tremendous importance on sociability and friendship. The sense of companionship holds a lot of significance in any relationship. In the Noble Qur’an, Allah (SWT) clearly states that He, too, chose friends for himself, who were none other than Prophet Ibrahim, Khalil Allah (as), and Prophet Muhammad, Habib Allah (saw).

Some quotes mentioned in the Quran and Ahadith:

1) Befriend those with Taqwa.

• Friends on the day of judgement will be enemies to one another, except al-Muttaqun ( i.e. those who have Taqwa ) (43:67)
• The Prophet pbuh said: A man follows the religion of his friend, so each one should consider whom he makes his friend. ( Abu Dawud )

2) Look out for each other.

• “ And (as for) the believing men and the believing women, they are guardians of each other; they enjoin good and forbid evil and keep up prayer and pay the poor, and obey Allah and his messenger (as for) these, Allah will show mercy to them; surely Allah is mighty, Wise.” (9:71)

3) Strengthen each other through your faith.

• The Prophet pbuh said: “A faithful believer to a faithful believer is like the bricks of a wall, enforcing each other.” (Bukhari)

4) Love your friends, for Allah’s sake.

• The Prophet pbuh said: Seven people Allah will give them his shade on the day when there would be no shade but the shade of His throne. From which one is two men who love and meet each other and depart from each other for the sake of Allah. (Muslim and Bukhari)

It is also said that there will be people on the day of judgement who will regret the Khalil they chose. They will say

يَا وَيْلَتَىٰ لَيْتَنِي لَمْ أَتَّخِذْ فُلَانًا خَلِيلًا

Oh, woe to me! I wish I had not taken that one as a friend.

(Surah Al-Furqan 25:28)

This verse immediately explains that their greatest regret will be they selected the wrong Khalil ( best friend ). Because that same friend led them on a path different from the righteous one and away from Allah (swt), all of us must have a check on whom we call our close or best friend. You must find the company of a friend who not only betters us professionally or personally but also betters us spiritually. It can be any average, normal person around us who constantly reminds us about Allah and his messenger, pbuh. For example, they influence you to do your salah daily and on time. They help you understand the meaning of the Quran, follow the other fard and sunnah, and stop you from doing evil deeds forbidden in Islam.

Friendship should be a relation such that, even if it does not benefit this world, it must help in the hereafter. When we see them, they remind us about Allah swt. When we sit with them, our Iman increases. When we speak to them, our knowledge of Islam increases. They are the people who push us towards Jannah. They are your companions in this world and the hereafter. We have to take only good deeds from this world for life after death, which we have done by ourselves and which we have done by the influence of good friends or people surrounding us.

In all the phases of life, human beings, from the very beginning phase of childhood, youth, and the old phase, need a greater bond to share with any close individual; this chance is given by friendship. Those who have true friends are never lonely and friendless in life. Some introverted people may get a fair space to open themselves and build confidence in conversation instead of being shy and less interactive.