Hadith #687

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all worlds, and blessings and peace be upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), his pure progeny, and his noble companions.

The provided Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) emphasizes the importance of choosing the right companions in our lives. Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ), being the gate to the city of knowledge, highlights three qualities that make a person the best companion.

Firstly, the best companion is the one who makes you infatuated with the Hereafter. This means that they constantly remind you of the eternal life and the importance of preparing for it. They inspire you to focus on your spiritual growth and the ultimate goal of attaining the pleasure of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ). This quality is in line with the teachings of the Quran, where Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says in Surah Al-Imran (3:185):

Every soul will taste death, and you will only be given your [full] compensation on the Day of Resurrection. So he who is drawn away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise has attained [his desire]. And what is the life of this world except the enjoyment of delusion.

Secondly, the best companion is the one who urges you to renounce worldly pleasures. This means that they discourage you from being attached to the materialistic aspects of this world and guide you towards prioritizing the spiritual and moral aspects of life. They remind you of the temporary nature of worldly possessions and the importance of seeking contentment in the remembrance of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ). The Quran supports this notion in Surah Al-Hadid (57:20), where Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says:

Know that the life of this world is but amusement and diversion and adornment and boasting to one another and competition in increase of wealth and children - like the example of a rain whose [resulting] plant growth pleases the tillers; then it dries and you see it turned yellow; then it becomes [scattered] debris. And in the Hereafter is severe punishment and forgiveness from Allah and approval. And what is the worldly life except the enjoyment of delusion.

Lastly, the best companion is the one who assists you in obeying your Lord. This means that they support and encourage you in performing acts of obedience to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ). They remind you of your responsibilities as a servant of Allah and help you stay on the path of righteousness. The Quran emphasizes the importance of righteous companionship in Surah Al-Kahf (18:28), where Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says:

And keep yourself patient [by being] with those who call upon their Lord in the morning and the evening, seeking His countenance. And let not your eyes pass beyond them, desiring adornments of the worldly life, and do not obey one whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance and who follows his desire and whose affair is ever [in] neglect.

Imam Ali's (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) thought-provoking words remind us of the importance of surrounding ourselves with companions who have a positive influence on our spiritual journey. Such companions inspire us to focus on the Hereafter, detach ourselves from worldly distractions, and strive towards obedience to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ). They remind us that the true purpose of life lies beyond the temporary pleasures of this world and guide us towards attaining eternal success.

May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) grant us the wisdom to choose righteous companions and bless us with the ability to be the best companions for others. Ameen.