وَأَنَّهُ تَعَالَى جَدُّ رَبِّنَا مَا اتَّخَذَ صَاحِبَةً وَلَا وَلَدًا “And Exalted is the Majesty of our Lord: He has taken neither a wife nor a son.”[The Holy Qur’an, Jinn 72:3] In the following verse the word companion refers to the Noble Prophet of God : مَا ضَلَّ صَاحِبُكُمْ وَمَا غَوَى “Your Companion is neither astray nor being misled.” [The Holy Qur’an, al-Najm 53:2] Thus, we can say that companion refers to someone that is with us either for a short time or for a long time.
There is a right that is incumbent upon us for our companion. Learning from Friends One of man’s characteristics is learning from friends. We influence others. Others influence us. Therefore, the Holy Qur’an warns us about the possibility of deviation and depicts for us a scene in the Hereafter when man realizes that ignorant and tricky companions have corrupted him. Then he wishes that he had never made friends with them. However, then it is too late to be sorry.
The Holy Qur’an says: وَيَوْمَ يَعَضُّ الظَّالِمُ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ يَقُولُ يَا لَيْتَنِي اتَّخَذْتُ مَعَ الرَّسُولِ سَبِيلًا لَقَدْ أَضَلَّنِي عَنِ الذِّكْرِ بَعْدَ إِذْ جَاءنِي وَكَانَ الشَّيْطَانُ لِلْإِنسَانِ خَذُولًا “The Day that the wrongdoer will bite at his hands, he will say, "Oh! Would that I had taken a (straight) path with the Apostle! Ah! Woe is me! Would that I had never taken such a one for a friend! He did lead me astray from the Message (of God) after it had come to me! Ah!
The Evil One is but a traitor to man!"…” [The Holy Qur’an, al-Furqan 25:27-29] Man’s state of extreme sorrow for following the footsteps of an evil friend is shown in these verses. Although these verses refer to the Hereafter, there are many people who greatly suffer from the companionship of bad friends, love their property, and honor.
Bad as Viewed in the Traditions There are many traditions that advise man not to make friends with bad people in order to prevent any losses and any future state of becoming sorry. Imam Ali said: لا تَصْحَبِ الشِّرّيرَ فإنَّ طَبعَكَ يَسرِقُ مِن طبْعِهِ شَرّاً وأنْتَ لا تَعلَمُ. “Avoid the companionship of wicked people since your nature will unknowingly adopt their wickedness.” [^1] Imam Sadiq said: مَن يَصحَبْ صاحِبَ السّوءِ لا يَسْلَمْ.
“Whoever associates with bad friends will not remain sound.” [^2] He also said: مَن لَمْ يَتَجَنَّبْ مُصاحَبَةَ الأحْمقِ يُوشَكُ أنْ يَتَخَلَّقَ بأخْلاقِهِ.