- Who is a true friend? What characteristics should a friend have?
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Quran and Ahl al-Bayt
Friends from the perspective of the Quran and Ahl al-Bayt:
One of the most important choices in human life is choosing a friend and companion, in which we must be careful about the characteristics of a friend. In this article, we would like to express the characteristics of a suitable friend from the perspective of the Qur'an and the traditions of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them).
Since man is a social being and he cannot continue his life without communication with others and he needs other people in all situations. This need is at its highest during adolescence. Teenagers will be more inclined towards friendship groups, so we should help them well in this important matter.
The Holy Qur'an has warned the believers not to choose companions other than their fellow believers and not to let strangers know about their inner secrets.[1]
Similarly, the Holy Qur'an says about the effect of a friend on a person: “Woe to me! I wish I had not taken so and so as a friend! Certainly he led me astray from the Reminder after it had come to me…”[2]
It is influenced by various things, which is hanging out with friends and socializing, because teenagers are influenced by their friends whether they like it or not.
True friends have important characteristics for teenagers. In this regard, Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) says: Friendship is not true except by observing its limits. Whoever observes those limits and conditions is a true friend, and whoever does not observe them, his friendship is counted as nothing.
These features include:
1-Your friend's appearance and interior should be the same as you.
2- He sees your beauty as his own beauty and your ugliness as his ugliness.
3- If he reaches a position and wealth, his behavior would not change.
4- He should not withhold from you what he has.
5- And the most important characteristic is that he does not leave you in trouble.[3] [4]
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[1] Quran [3–118]
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَتَّخِذُوا بِطَانَةً مِنْ دُونِكُمْ لَا يَأْلُونَكُمْ خَبَالًا وَدُّوا مَا عَنِتُّمْ قَدْ بَدَتِ الْبَغْضَاءُ مِنْ أَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَمَا تُخْفِي صُدُورُهُمْ أَكْبَرُ
[2] Quran [25: 29-28]
يَا وَيْلَتَىٰ لَيْتَنِي لَمْ أَتَّخِذْ فُلَانًا خَلِيلًا، لَقَدْ أَضَلَّنِي عَنِ الذِّكْرِ بَعْدَ إِذْ جَاءَنِي
[3] Tohaf al-Aqool, p. 586