Listen LiveFriend or Foe? The Effects of Company Part 2
Friend or Foe? The Effects of Company Part 2 of 2
Delivered by Shaykh Riyadh ul Haq on Friday 17th February 2023 at Al Kawthar Academy, Leicester
This talk emphasizes the profound impact that friends and companions have on an individual’s faith, behaviour, and overall character. Drawing upon various aḥādīth and Qur’anic verses, it illustrates the idea that a person is influenced by their companions—”a man is upon the Deen of his friend.” Good company not only uplifts one’s spirituality but also enhances knowledge and concerns for righteousness, whereas bad company can corrupt their moral standing, leading to adverse influences and negative thoughts about virtuous individuals and principles.
Throughout the talk, the speaker discusses the concept of solitude over harmful associations, drawing parallels with the stories of prophets and righteous figures who distanced themselves from unvirtuous peers. By conveying the dangers of hypocritical friendships, the importance of pious company, and urging listeners to seek Allah’s guidance for better companionship, the speaker concludes with a focus on the ultimate consequences in the afterlife—reinforcing the message that the company we choose in this life significantly determines our fate in the hereafter.
Below are some of the timecodes and topics for this talk:
0:00 – Intro: Impact of company
9:29 – Ibrahim a.s moving away from his people
17:25 – Avoiding the company of the ignorant
27:25 – The people of the cave (Aṣḥāb al-kahf)
34:24 – The couplet of Imam Malik ibn Dinar
45:23 – Choosing your company in the akhirah
58:35 – The prophets praying for good company
1:08:00 – Solitude is worship
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