Sayyidunā ꜤAbbās رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ reports that the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, “When someone’s hair stands on end due to the fear of Allah Almighty, his sins fall away like the leaves of a dry tree.” ^[1]

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب                                     صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

Adopt good company

Dear Islamic brothers! Adopting the company of righteous people and avoiding evil company is an excellent way of softening the heart. Mufti Aḥmad Yār Khan NaꜤīmī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه said:

Just how iron is softened and turned into tools, gold is softened and turned into jewellery, soil is softened and turned into a field or garden, and flour is softened and turned into bread, when someone’s heart softens, he becomes a saint, sufi, Ꜥārif, etc. A tender heart is a great blessing from Allah Almighty, and it is attained by sitting in the company of the righteous and listening to their speech.^[2] 

Allah Almighty commands us to adopt the company of the righteous. He states in verse 119 of Surah al-Tawbah:

یٰۤاَیُّہَا الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللّٰہَ وَ کُوْنُوْا مَعَ  الصّٰدِقِیْنَ (۱۱۹(

O you who believe! Fear Allah and be with the truthful. ^[3]

It is explained on page 258 in volume 4 of Tafsīr Ṣirāṭ al-Jinān that this verse serves as proof for us to sit with the righteous because one way of being with the truthful is to adopt their company. The effects of this will