Who is Your Best Friend?

ٱلۡأَخِلَّآءُ يَوۡمَٮِٕذِۭ بَعۡضُهُمۡ لِبَعۡضٍ عَدُوٌّ إِلَّا ٱلۡمُتَّقِينَ 

Imagine the scene on the Day of Judgment. The Throne of Allah is before you in all its Glory and Grandeur. Hell fire is chained and restrained by 70,000 angels. Jannah is brought near, the gates are wide open and the angels are welcoming the believers with Salams and Congratulations.

Who is standing next to you? Your spouse? Your kids? Your parents? Or your best friend? 

"On the Day of Judgment, only the people of Taqwa will remain friends with each other, while everyone else will turn into enemies." 43: 67

Allah designed humans (Insaan) as social creatures.  Insaan comes from two root words which means: (a) to seek affection and (b) to forget. Hence, as human beings we gravitate towards friends, communication, sharing and love. 

Usually we make friends with people who are our colleagues, classmates and neighbours. With the dawn of Facebook and Twitter, we have hundreds of friends and thousands of followers from all over the world. However, the only friendships which will last on the Day of Judgment are those we shared with the people of Taqwa. 

Taqwa is defined as the action or state of keeping careful watch for possible dangers or difficulties. People of Taqwa are those who protect and vigilantly guard themselves from the danger of falling into sins and disobeying Allah as a consequence. Sins bring difficulties and stress into our lives. 

Friends with Taqwa remind us of Allah when we forget. It is in our nature to forget, we are after all, Insaan. When we are  friends with people who have Taqwa, we constantly feel connected to Allah. 

The Prophet ﷺ was asked: “Which of our friends are best?” 

He ﷺ replied: “One whose appearance reminds you of Allah, and whose speech increases you in knowledge, and whose actions remind you of the hereafter.” (al-MuhasFibi). 

Friends of Allah dress presentably and modestly. They are not ostentatious; their clothing reflects their desire to seek attention from Allah and not from people. They don't waste their time on gossip, offensive jokes or idle subjects. When they speak, they are thought provoking, insightful, gentle and Allah-loving. They are always mindful of the Hereafter and they aspire to achieve greatness in the Hereafter.  

Friends with Taqwa also protect us from things which distance us from Allah. They don't allow us to be influenced and distracted by music, videos, books, lust, power, money, and pride. Friends with Taqwa not only help us see our sins, they spur us towards Allah's obedience. They are like cheerleaders without whom we would become spiritually lazy and stagnant.

May Allah make us people of Taqwa and grant us Friends with Taqwa ameen.