Hadith #684

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all worlds. May peace and blessings be upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), his pure Ahl al-Bayt, and his noble companions.

The Arabic Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) states,

خَيْرُ الاِختيارِ صُحبَةُ الأخيارِ۔

This can be translated as,

The best choice is accompanying the righteous.

Let us delve into the essence of this Hadith in light of the Quran.

Firstly, let us understand the important words in this Hadith. (khayr) "خَيْرُ" means the best or the most excellent. (al-ikhtiyar) "الاِختيارِ" refers to the act of choosing or selecting. (suhbah) "صُحبَةُ" means companionship or association. And (al-akhyaar) "الأخيارِ" denotes the righteous or the virtuous individuals.

To support the exegesis of this Hadith, we find numerous verses in the Quran that emphasize the importance of choosing righteous companions and the impact they have on our spiritual growth. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) says in Surah Al-Kahf (18:28),

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.

This verse highlights the importance of surrounding ourselves with individuals who are devoted to the remembrance of Allah. By choosing righteous companions, we are able to strengthen our faith, seek the pleasure of Allah, and avoid being influenced by those who are heedless of His remembrance.

Furthermore, in Surah Al-Furqan (25:27-29), Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ) describes the Day of Judgment and the regret of the wrongdoers. He says,

And the Day the wrongdoer will bite on his hands [in regret] he will say, 'Oh, I wish I had taken with the Messenger a way. Oh, woe to me! I wish I had not taken that one as a friend. He led me away from the remembrance after it had come to me. And ever is Satan, to man, a deserter.'

This verse serves as a warning to Muslims about the consequences of choosing the wrong companions. It highlights the regret of those who followed the path of the wrongdoers and neglected the company of the Messenger (ﷺ) and his righteous companions. It emphasizes the importance of selecting righteous companions who will guide us towards the remembrance of Allah and protect us from the influence of Satan.

In light of these Quranic verses, we can understand the profound wisdom behind Imam Ali's (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) statement. The best choice we can make in our lives is to surround ourselves with righteous individuals. By choosing to associate with the righteous, we are able to strengthen our faith, seek the pleasure of Allah, and protect ourselves from the negative influences of the world.

The company we keep has a significant impact on our thoughts, actions, and overall spiritual well-being. Just as a rotten apple can spoil the entire basket, the wrong companions can lead us astray and hinder our spiritual growth. On the other hand, the company of the righteous can inspire us, motivate us, and help us strive towards righteousness.

Imam Ali's (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) statement serves as a reminder for Muslims to carefully choose their companions and strive to be amongst the righteous. It encourages us to seek out individuals who are devoted to the remembrance of Allah, who embody the teachings of the Quran and the Sunnah, and who inspire us to be better Muslims.

In conclusion, the Hadith of Imam Ali (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) teaches us the importance of choosing righteous companions. By surrounding ourselves with the righteous, we are able to strengthen our faith, seek the pleasure of Allah, and protect ourselves from negative influences. Let us strive to be amongst the righteous and seek their company, for it is the best choice we can make in our lives as Muslims. May Allah guide us in selecting righteous companions and grant us the wisdom to benefit from their company.