O devotees of the awliyā! There are many blessings that come with staying in the company of pious people. One of these blessings is a person being able to recognise the traps and deception of the nafs.

Shaykh ʿAbd al-Qādir Jīlānī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه indicates towards this very point and says: مَنْ اَکْثَرَ مِنْ مُّخَالَـطَۃِ الْعَارِفِیْنَ بِاللّٰہِ عَـرَفَ نَفْسَہٗ - “He who adopts the company of those who are cognizant of Allah (meaning, the awliya رَحِمَهُمُ الـلّٰـه), will go on to attain cognizance of his nafs.”^[1]

The foremost saint goes on to further say:

Indeed, this is also from the qualities of the awliyā that whenever they look towards an individual and focus upon them, the said individual’s strength in faith, certainty (in Allah) and steadfastness increases manifold.^[2] 

O devotees of the Messenger! As we have just heard, staying in the company of pious people can lead to your state changing for the better. Nowadays, one way of attaining good company is to attach yourself to the Islamic environment of Dawat-e-Islami.

Remaining affiliated with this environment is a tried and tested way to save yourself from sins, acquire religious knowledge, and call others to righteousness. This can be done through attending sunnah-inspired gatherings, watching the weekly Madani Muzakarah, travelling in a three-day Madani Qāfilah every month, staying in the company of those who love the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, filling in the Pious Deeds booklet and many other religious deeds. Remember, staying in the company of virtuous people for even a moment can turn the lives of great sinners around instantly.