Dear Islamic brothers! Islam taught us about gentleness, good character, forgiveness, humility, and everything about how to live our lives.

At the same time, it also taught us how to live with others; with whom to associate, whose company to keep, and how to choose friends. Islam instructs us that our friendships should be with those whose very presence reminds us of Allah and whose words inspire us to do good deeds and strive for the Hereafter.

Today, we will talk about the blessings of good company and the consequences of bad company.

The Consequences of Bad Company

The Amir of Ahl al-Sunna, Mawlana Ilyas Attar al-Qadiri دَامَـتْ بَـرَكَـاتُـهُـمُ الْـعَـالِـيَـهْ writes in his book, Call to Righteousness:

In a neighbourhood in Punjab, a strange and foul smell began to spread. After extensive search by the locals, the source of the smell was traced to a closed house. The police were informed, who then broke the locks and entered, along with the locals.

Inside, everyone was horrified to see the corpse of a young man on a bed. Parts of his body had decayed, and maggots were crawling over him. Many, including children, fainted at the sight.

Upon investigation, it was discovered this young man had come to the area to earn a living. He was living in a rented house and had formed friendships with some gamblers. One day, he won a large amount of money from his gambling friends.

In revenge, the friends who had lost the money strangled him, electrocuted him, and left him to die. They then fled, locking the