Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said,

“A man is upon the religion of his best friend, so let one of you look at whom he befriends.”

Source: Sunan Abu Dawud 4833
Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to An-Nawawi


Islam places huge emphasis on attaining good, righteous company and surrounding ourselves with the type of people who will remind us of Allah (swt). But in today’s world how can we distinguish between those individuals who just carry around the label of a “friend”, those who will drag you to the pit of Jahannam and those who genuinely mean well for you?

This article discusses the types of “friends” one may encounter in life, those you should hold onto, those you should avoid, and the grave consequences of befriending neglectful and heedless individuals.

Firstly we’ll run through the “good” type of friends, those you should hold on to firmly. Finding a single person who wholeheartedly wishes well upon us in today’s world is challenging.

A good friend is one who accepts your weaknesses, while being supportive and correcting you when possible. He will love you and forgive you for the sake of Allah (swt). A good friend doesn’t slander you behind your back. When they disagree with you, it’s done in a respectful way that is meant for you both to come to an understanding – you better one another in terms of Deen.

Rafeeq: This type of friend as described in the Qur’an is literally like a pillow, someone you can lean on. You can count on them in your hour of need and their advice will benefit you.
Wali: A protective friend, they are there to watch your back when you’re in trouble. Allah mentions in the Qur’an He is your first Wali the second is His messenger, Prophet Muhammad (saw). Therefore, holding onto his legacy and sunnah is a means of protection. For example, walking with humility, lowering of the gaze among several others, protects us from all kinds of fitna. Allah (swt) also mentions that only those who believe, are consistent in prayer, abide by sacred law and stay in a state of humility – are eligible to be called the “Wali” of another believer.
Saddiq: the most sincere and truthful friend. This person will tell you the truth and look out for your best interest, whether you want to hear it or not. If he sees a flaw in your character he will openly tell you and request you to change for the better. For example, he may witness you speaking to your mother in a disrespectful tone, and asks you to correct your manner towards her.
Khalil: a very close friend, you feel deep love for this person from the bottom of your heart – they are like a sibling. Any pain they suffer, you also experience, likewise, any joy they feel – you do too. This relationship is so honoured in the Qur’an that Allah (swt) mentions Ibrahim (as) as His Khalil.
Waleeja: This is the kind of friend you trust literally with your life, they’re involved in private matters, business transactions, or personal disputes you have. A Waleeja should only be a Muslim – people involved in your personal life shouldn’t be anyone aside from believers. Non-believers will use your personal matters for their own gain, give you incorrect advice and won’t leave any stone unturned when it comes to harming you.
The importance of good company cannot be stressed enough. If you are regularly surrounded by those who are arrogant, ill-mannered and disrespectful, sooner or later you will mirror them. It’ll happen gradually overtime and you may not be conscious of the impact your behavior is causing. Slowly you will begin raising your voice at your parents, little things will irritate you, and you will become ungrateful. A good deal of the time when we behave in the wrong manner it is because of our friends, but on the day of judgement these “friends” which you neglected your own family for in the dunya will be of no help to you. In fact, they will stand right in front of you, testifying against you. So don’t ruin your Akhirah for temporary “pleasure” or to gain popularity within this dunya.
The example of a good companion (friend) in comparison with a bad one is like that of one who sells musk and the blacksmith. From the first, you would either buy musk or enjoy its good smell, while from the blacksmith you would either get burned or smell a bad scent – Saheeh Al Bukhari.
Following this, we will move on to discussing the “bad” types of friends you may encounter – those you should stay away from as they can drag you to Jahannam.

Mixing with those who abandon the command of Allah (swt) and message of the Prophet (saw) results in a transformation in one’s behavior, morals and conduct. If we befriend such individuals, then we tend to pick up the habits from their lifestyle. Many times a Muslim is incited by these friends to do evil and to disregard his duties.

Qarin: this is a friend who is always around you, will never leave you for a split second and takes you away from the remembrance of Allah (swt). Relating to this, in the Quran it is mentioned that on the day of judgement there will be a group of individuals making their way to Jannah, in the midst of all this one of them will utter concern for an old friend he knew in the dunya who mocked him for avoiding all the wrongdoing he did. He wishes to see where this friend is – so Allah (swt) allows him a glimpse into Jahannam, where this old friend is experiencing torment, agony and is burning. Out of pure fear and shock he will say “you almost took me with you!” [surah 37:56-57]. This can be likened to standing on the edge of a cliff, it takes one person to push you to eternal doom. This is a powerful demonstration of the importance of righteous company – the wrong type of friends can destroy you.
It is essential to evaluate yourself too, are you this kind of person? The person who uses foul language, tempts others to do wrong. Are you the kind of person who pulls others away from the remembrance of their Rabb?
Another form of a Qarin is the one who inwardly abandons Allah’s commands. They may pray but they are heedless, and it is more a routine than anything else. When an individual turns into this kind of person – Allah (swt) Himself assigns a Qarin to him, a Shaytaan, because they walked away from the remembrance of Allah.

“And (remember) the Day when the wrong-doer (oppressor, polytheist etc.) will bite on his hand, he will say: ‘Oh! Would that I had taken a path with the Messenger. Ah! Woe to me! Would that I had never taken so-and-so as a friend! He indeed led me astray from the Reminder (the Quran) after it had come to me’”
(Quran 25:27).

Subsequently, we will explore the “ugly” type of friends, who extract all the goodness out of you for their own benefit, as with bad “friends” these are the ones you need to avoid and limit interaction with.
Khazool: Outwardly they display to you that they are loyal. You believe they are a sincere friend, until the time of need arrives and they disappear. They may also be known as “users”, a “friend” who is only present for their own motives.
Allah (swt) mentions in the Qur’an how Shaytaan is the biggest Khazool of a believer – his object is to draw you into the Fire. On the Day of Judgement every individual heading for the Fire will be cursing Shaytaan:

‘And Shaytan will say when the matter has been decided, ‘Verily, Allah promised you a promise of truth. And I too promised you, but I betrayed you. I had no authority over you except that I called you, and you responded to me. So blame me not, but blame yourselves. I cannot help you, nor can you help me. I deny your past acts of associating me as a partner with Allah (i.e., Shirk by obeying me in the life of the world). Verily, there is a painful torment for the Zaalimoon (polytheists and wrongdoers)
Surah Ibraheem: 22.

Finally, we delve into what kind of a friend you should aspire to be. First and foremost, whenever you encounter a person that you believe you may be able to form a friendship with, remember you Lord. Remember death and your Akhirah – purify your intentions and carry out every single action for His sake and His alone.
Believers are brothers and sisters – and this bond of the Shahadah is greater than the bond of blood. It is important to look out for your friends, know that, although they may possess faults, you also do – and Allah did not create us to be sin free. However, correct your companions gently and in private if you see a fault in them. If you’re not able to do so, the very least you can do is make excuses for them. Whoever conceals (the fault of) a Muslim, God will conceal his fault on the Day of Judgment” – Abu Dawood.
Be the kind of friend that you wish to meet, be a role model for others to follow, know the rights that your brother or sister in Islam have upon you and ensure that you fulfil them.
Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying:
Six are the rights of a Muslim over another Muslim. It was said to him: Allah’s Messenger, what are these? Thereupon he said: When you meet him, offer him greetings; when he invites you to a feast accept it, when he seeks your council give him, and when he sneezes and says: “All praise is due to Allah,” you say Yarhamuk Allah (may Allah show mercy to you); and when he fails ill visit him; and when he dies follow his funeral to his final place of rest (burial)
Sahih Muslim Book 026, Hadith Number 5379.
Be the type of friend who wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself in every sense of the word, the shoulder to cry on and the ear who listens. Sharing the joys, pains, trials and tribulations of life – offering sincere advice and reminding him of the remembrance of Allah.
Finally, make Dua for those you claim to love. If you love your friend for the sake of Allah (swt) then what pains him will also pain you, if you see him heading towards doom and potentially the Hellfire and he refuses your reminders towards good, then make sincere Dua for him, it can go a long way.

“And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me – indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me that they may be [rightly] guided”
Qur’an: Chapter 2, Verse 186.

On the whole, throughout this article, I have listed the main categories of friends which one may come across during life and the most significant points related to them, from my perspective. Brothers and sisters, I’d like you to take a moment to reflect upon your own circle of friends and really analyse whether they will lead you to eternal paradise or doom.
Ask yourself, is my current company making me better or worse?
Are they doing better deeds than I am?
Am I tempted to do more wrong or lead aright when I am with them?
Remember that the Prophet Muhammad (saw) is given permission to intercede on the day of judgement, by the will of Allah and he will provide one of two testimonies.
1. Will be in favour of his Ummah, to protect the true believers from hell
2. Will be a testimony against the wrongdoers from this Ummah – leading them to the pit of fire.
On that day, where all deeds are accounted for, not a single sin is hidden – which side will you be on?
May Allah (swt), the Lord of all that exists protect us from befriending the enemies of Islam, may He enable us to distinguish between the individuals who are on the correct path and those on the wrong, making our companions a means for us to enter Jannah, Ameen.