The Meaning of Friendship and The rights of A Muslim.

The Meaning of Friendship and The rights of A Muslim

It was Said by Imam Ash-Shafi'iy

سلام على الدنيا إذا لم يكن بها

Farewell to the world, if there is no one in it that is

صديق صدوق صادق الوعد منصفا

A (genuine) friend who's honest, just, and keeps a promise

(continue reading for the full poetry)

Muslims are not all obligated to become buddies and best friends, and finding an honest, reliable, trustworthy friends is rare nowadays. And, if you go with the standards stated by some scholars like Ibn Aljawziy of what renders a person a genuine friend you will start referring to your friends as an acquaintance rather than calling them real friends.

There are several types of Friendship and the best is the Friendship between two Muslims for the love of Allah. That's they meet to do the good deeds, such as at a Masjid, in a gathering to recite Quran, visit the sick, da'wah...etc. They help each other in that which is good and they carry the traits of good friends that are described by Al-Ghazali, Ibn Qudamah or Ibn Aljawziy among other scholars in their books. Such friends will be under the shade of the 'Arash in the hereafter may Allah grant us such status and such friends.

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In poetry attributed to Imam Ash-Shafi'iy about the meaning friendship he said:

اذا المرء لا يرعاك الا تكلفا

If the person is not caring to you, but only when burdened

فدعه ولا تكثر عليه التاسفا

Then leave him, and don’t be sad for long

ففي الناس ابدال وفي الترك راحة

There are substitutes in people, and relief in letting go

وفي القلب صبر للحبيب ولو جفا

And there is patience in the heart for the loved one despite his harshness (i.e. coldness).

فما كل من تهواه يهواك قلبه

Not all those you desire (love)

desire you (i.e. love you)

ولا كل من صافيته لك قد صفا

And not all those you are sincere with are sincere to you

اذا لم يكن صفو الوداد طبيعة

If sincere affection is not in one's nature

فلا خير في ود يجيء تكلفا

Then there is no good in a forced affection

فلا خير في ود يجيء تكلفا

There is no good in a friend who deceives his friend

ويلقاه من بعد المودة بالجفا

And treats harshly just after being loving

وينكر عيشا قد تقادم عهده

And denies the life previously cherished

ويظهر سرا كان بالامس قد خفا

And discloses a secret kept yesterday enclosed

. سلام على الدنيا إذا لم يكن بها

Farewell to the world, if there is no one in it that is

صديق صدوق صادق الوعد منصفا

A (genuine) friend who's honest, just, and keeps a promise

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There are many types of Friendship

Nevertheless, there are certain right Muslims have upon each other regardless if they are friends or not and these are stated in the saying of the Prophet (ﷺ), and in this hadith narrated by Imam Muslim Allah's messenger (ﷺ) counted six of these rights.

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏"‏ حَقُّ الْمُسْلِمِ عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِ سِتٌّ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قِيلَ مَا هُنَّ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ ‏"‏ إِذَا لَقِيتَهُ فَسَلِّمْ عَلَيْهِ وَإِذَا دَعَاكَ فَأَجِبْهُ وَإِذَا اسْتَنْصَحَكَ فَانْصَحْ لَهُ وَإِذَا عَطَسَ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ فَسَمِّتْهُ وَإِذَا مَرِضَ فَعُدْهُ وَإِذَا مَاتَ فَاتَّبِعْهُ ‏"‏

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Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:{" The rights of Muslim over another Muslim are six".

It was said to him: What are they O Messenger of Allah ﷺ ?

he said: "When you meet him, offer him Salam (i.e. greetings by saying As Salamu 'Alaykum); when he invites you to a feast accept it. when he seeks your council give him, and when he sneezes and says: Alhamdulillah (All praise is due to Allah) say YarhamukAllah (may Allah be merciful to you); and when he fails ill visit him, and when he dies then follow his burial.}

Narrated by Muslim

And Allah knows best.