Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

Ninty Nine Names Of Allah

1. Allah:

He who has the Godhood which is the power to create the entities.

2.Ar-Rahman :

The One who has plenty of mercy for the believers and the blasphemers in this world and especially for the believers in the hereafter.

3.Ar-Rahim :

The One who has plenty of mercy for the believers.

4. Al-Malik :

He, the Exalted, His Existence is obvious by proofs and He is clear from the delusions of attributes of bodies.the One with the complete Dominion, the One Whose Dominion is clear from imperfection.

5. Al-Quddus :

The One who is pure from any imperfection and clear from children and adversaries.

6. As-Salam:

The One who is free from every imperfection.

7. Al-Mu'min :

The One who witnessed for Himself that no one is God but Him.and He witnessed for His believers that they are truthful in their belief that no one is God but Him.

8. Al-Muhaymin :

The One who witnesses the saying and deeds of His creatures.

9. Al-Aziz:

The Defeater who is not defeated.

10. Al-Jabbar :

The One that nothing happens in His Dominion except that which He willed.

11. Al-Mutakabbir :

The One who is clear from the attributes of the creatures and from resembling them.

12. Al-Khaliq :

The One who brings everything from non-existence to existence.

13. Al-Bari':

The Creator who has the Power to turn the entities.

14. Al-Musawwir :

The One who forms His creatures in different pictures.

15. Al-Ghaffar :

The One who forgives the sins of His slaves time and time again.

16. Al-Qahhar :

TheSubduer who has the perfect Power and is not unable over anything.

17. Al-Wahhab :

The One who is Generous in giving plenty without any return. He is everything that benefits whetherHalal orHaram .

19. Al-Fattah:

The One who opens for His slaves the closedworldy and religious matters.

20. Al-'Alim :

The Knowledgeable; the One nothing is absent from His knowledge.

21. Al-Qabid and 22. Al-Basit :

The One who constricts the sustenance by Hiswisdomand expands and widens it with His Generosity and Mercy.

23. Al-Khafid and 24.Ar-Rafi ':

The One who lowers whoever He willed by His Destruction and raises whoever He willed by His Endowment.

25. Al-Mu^iz and 26. Al-Muthil :

He gives esteem to whoever He willed, hence there is no one to degrade Him; and He degrades whoever He willed, hence there is no one to give Him esteem.

27. As-Sami':

The One whoHears all things that are heard by His Eternal Hearing without an ear, instrument or organ.

28. Al-Basir :

The One whoSees all things that are seen by His Eternal Seeing without a pupil or any other instrument.

29. Al-Hakam :

He is the Ruler and His judgment is His Word.

30. Al-Adl :

The One who is entitled to do what He does.

31. Al-Latif :

The One who is kind to His slaves and endows upon them.

32. Al-Khabir :

The One who knows the truth of things.

33. Al-Halim :

TheOne who delays the punishment for those who deserve it and then He might forgive them.

34. Al-'Azim :

The One deserving the attributes ofExaltment , Glory,Extolement,and Purity from all imperfection.

35. Al-Ghafur :

The One who forgives a lot.

36. Ash-Shakur :

The One who gives a lot of reward for a little obedience.

37. Al-^Aliyy :

The One who is clear from the attributes of the creatures.

38. Al-Kabir :

The One who is greater than everything in status.

39. Al-Hafiz:

The One who protects whatever and whoever He willed to protect.

40. Al-Muqit :

The One who has the Power.

41. Al-Hasib :

The One who gives the satisfaction.

42.Aj-Jalil :

The One who is attributed with greatness of Power and Glory of status.

43. Al-Karim :

The One who is clear from abjectness.

44.Ar-Raqib :

The One that nothing is absent from Him. Henceit's meaning is related to the attribute of Knowledge.

45. Al-Mujib :

The One who answers the one in need if he asks Him and rescues theyearner if he calls upon Him.

46. Al-Wasi ^:

The Knowledgeable.

47. Al-Hakim:

The One who is correct in His doings.

48. Al-Wadud :

The One who loves His believing slaves and His believing slaves love Him. His love to His slaves is His Will to be merciful to them and praise them: Henceit's meaning is related to the attributes of the Will andKalam (His attribute with which He orders and forbids and spoke to Muhammad and Musa -peace be upon them- It is not a sound nor a language nor a letter.).

49. Al-Majid :

The One who is with perfect Power, High Status, Compassion, Generosity and Kindness.

50. Al-Ba^ith :

The One who resurrects His slaves after death for reward and/or punishment.

51. Ash-Shahid :

The One who nothing is absent from Him.

52. Al-Haqq :

The One who truly exists.

53. Al-Wakil :

The One who gives the satisfaction and is relied upon.

55. Al-Matin :

The One with extreme Power which is un-interrupted and He does not get tired.

56. Al-Waliyy :

The Supporter.

57. Al-Hamid :

The praised One who deserves to be praised.

58. Al-Muhsi :

The One who the count of things are known to him.

59. Al-Mubdi ':

The One who started the human being. That is, He created him.

60. Al-Mu^id :

The One who brings back the creatures after death.

61. Al-Muhyi :

The One who took out a living human from semen that does not have a soul. He gives life by giving the souls back to the worn out bodies on the resurrection day and He makes the hearts alive by the light of knowledge.

62. Al-Mumit :

The One who renders the living dead.

63. Al-Hayy :

The One attributed with a life that is unlike our life and is not that of a combination of soul, flesh or blood.

64. Al-Qayyum :

The One who remains and does not end.

65. Al-Wajid :

The Rich who is never poor. Al-Wajd is Richness.

66. Al-Majid :

The One who isMajid .

67. Al-Wahid:

The One without a partner.

68. As-Samad :

The Master who is relied upon in matters and reverted to in ones needs.

69. Al-Qadir:

The One attributed with Power.

70. Al-Muqtadir :

The One with the perfect Power that nothing is withheldrom Him.

71. Al-Muqaddim and 72. Al-Mu'akhkhir :

The One who puts things in their right places. He makes ahead what He wills and delays what He wills.

73. Al-'Awwal :

The Onewhose Existence is without a beginning.

74. Al-'Akhir :

The Onewhose Existence is without an end.

75.Az-Zahir :

The One that nothing is above Him and nothing is underneathHim, hence He exists without a place.

76. Al-Batin :

He, the Exalted, His Existence is obvious by proofs and He is clear from the delusions of attributes of bodies.

77. Al-Wali :

The One who owns things and manages them.

78. Al-Muta^ali :

The One who is clear from the attributes of the creation.

79. Al-Barr:

The One who is kind to His creatures,who covered them with His sustenance and specified whoever He willed among them by His support, protection, and special mercy.

80. At-Tawwab :

The One who grants repentance to whoever He willed among His creatures and accepts his repentance.

81. Al-Muntaqim :

The One who victoriously prevails over His enemies and punishes them for their sins. It may mean the One who destroys them.

82. Al-^Afuww :

The One with wide forgiveness.

83.Ar-Ra'uf :

The One with extreme Mercy. the Mercy of Allah is His will to endow upon whoever He willed among His creatures.

84.Malik Al-Mulk :

The One who controls the Dominion and gives dominion to whoever He willed.

85.Thul-Jalal wal-Ikram :

The One who deserves to be Exalted and not denied.

86. Al-Muqsit :

The One who is Just in His judgment.

87.Aj -Jami:

The One who gathers the creatures on a day that there is no doubt about, that is the Day of Judgment.

88. Al-Ghaniyy :

The One who does not need the creation.

89. Al-Mughni :

The One who satisfies the necessities of the creatures.

90. Al-Mani^:

The Supporter who protects and gives victory to His pious believers. Al-Mu'tiy the Withholder.

91. Ad-Darr and 92. An-Nafi ^

The One who makes harm reach to whoever He willed and benefit to whoever He willed.

93. An-Nur :

The One who guides.

94. Al-Hadi :

The One whom with His Guidance Hisbelivers were guided, and with His Guidance the living beings have been guided to what is beneficial for them and protected from what is harmful to them.

95. Al-Badi ^:

The One who created the creation and formed it without any preceding example.

96. Al-Baqi :

The One that the state of non-existence is impossible for Him.

97. Al-Warith :

The Onewhose Existence remains.

98.Ar -Rashid:

The One who guides.

99. As-Sabur :

The One who does not quickly punish the sinners. "... Naught is as His likeness; and He is the Hearer, the Seer ..." Qur'an [42:11] (Arabic transliteration:Huwa Allathi Laysa KaMithlihi Shay'un Wa Huwa As-Sami^ Al-Basir )

Salaat is better than Sleep

The importance ofSalaat in Islam can never be over-emphasised . We have learnt from theHadith ofRasulullah (Sallallaahu A'layhi Wasallam ) that the similitude ofSalaat in the life of a Muslim is like that of the head in the human body. Just as there is no life without the head, there is no Islam withoutSalaat .

O Muslim Brothers and Sisters: Consider these virtues ofFajr in theMasjid .!! PerformingFajr on its time withJamaat is a quality of aMumin .

PerformingFajr on its time withJamaat andEsha as well equals theIbadat (worship) of the whole night. He who performs hisFajr withJamaat is in the protection of Allah.

There are glad tidings of perfect and completeNur (celestial light)for him on the day ofQiyamah . He who awakens from his sleep and makes theZikr of Allah, performswudhu and performs hisFajr Salaat withJamaat in theMasjid awakens fresh and healthy and if not, he awakens evil and lazy.

If he performs hisFajr withJamaat he acquires multiple rewards, his rank is elevated and sins forgiven. To performFajr on its time withJamaat in theMasjid is a cause of entry intojannah and protection from the fire. Themalaa-eekah are present in thesalaat ofFajr andAsr with mercy and blessings.

He who performsFajr andAsr on time withJamaat , will enterJannah .

He who performs hisSalaat before the rising of the sun (Fajr ) and before its setting (Asr ) will never enter the fire.The angels of the night and day that are appointed over a person alternate. they gather during theFajr andAsr Salaat .thereafter those angels that spent their night with a person ascend (the skies) and theirRabb asks them (although He is most knowledgeable). "How did you leaveMy servants?" they will reply: "We left them while they were performingSalaat and we came to them while they were performingSalaat ."

The harms of not performingFajr in theMasjid withJamaat :

It is a reported quality of a hypocrite (munafiq ).

A loss of rewards andthawaabs result by not performingFajr withJamaat in theMasjid .

A person who sleeps until sunrise and did not perform hisFajr in theMasjid awakes evil and lazy. A person is deprived of the benefits of good health which are acquired when awakening and performingFajr withJamaat in theMasjid . A person is deprived of the obedience to Allah.

Rasulullah (Sallallaahu A'layhi Wasallam ) said with regard to a man who slept until the sun rose, "He is a person in whose earsShaytaan has urinated."

Factors that will assist in performingFajr :

Realise the greatness of Allah and His commandments and fear His punishment in the hereafter and in this world if He has to take one to task. It is a great sign of Islam and a pillar from among the pillars of Islam.

Fight thenafs (carnal self) and train it to perform thisfardh with eagerness, contentment and solely for the pleasure of Allah. Always meditate about the fact thatFajr is difficult for themunafiqeen ( hypocrites).

Sleep early. To stay awake for a permissible act but which causes one tomiss Fajr isHaraam .then what about staying awake for aharaam act and missingFajr ?

Make a firm resolution and intention to performFajr withJamaat in theMasjid , for a sleeping person is like a dead person who does not know whether he will awaken in the morning or be dead. If he did not make the intention ofFajr he will have a bad death.

Themoment you awaken for thissalaat do not procrastinate; hasten immediately to performwudhu and give up procrastination and laxity.

Realise that if you perform yoursalaat withJamaat in theMasjid you will acquire rewards that cannot be measured in monetary terms and if you did not perform yourSalaat you are vulnerable to the punishment of Allah.

Make sure you set your alarm and make suitable and reliable arrangements to be awakened forSalaat like asking a friend to telephone you or knock on your door or take you along forFajr .

Fix some punishment for yourself whenever you miss yourFajr withJamaat like performing a certain number ofNafl Salaats , giving charity etc. so that the pinch is felt.

Perform yourSalaat before yours is performed - remember death is inevitable.

All want the sun of Islam to rise but how can that be when the sons of Islam are fast asleep when the sun rises?

A Tradition from ImamHusayn (as)

A man once came to him asking for advice since he could not stop committing sin.the Imam (as) asked him to do any of the following five things and then he could sin as he wished:

1. Do not eat from the sustenance of Allah, and then sin as you like.

2. Go out of the kingdom of Allah, and then sin as you like.

3. Find a place where Allah does not see you and then sin as you like.

4. When the Angel of Death approaches you to take you soul, stop him from doing so.

5. When you are dragged into the hell fire at the command of Allah, refuse to enter.

A Tradition from ImamZaynul Abedeen (as)

"Know that God has rights against you and that these encompass you in every movement through which you move, every rest through which you rest, everywaystation in which you reside, every limb which you employ, and every instrument which you put to work. Some of theserights are greater and some less."(Risalatal Haq )

Most commonly associated with the fourth Imam (as) is his wonderful collection of supplications formed into what is known as 'Sahifatus Sajjadiyya '. However, besides theseinnovocations he also wrote 'Risalatal Haq ' - 'The Treatise on Rights'. It is an elaboration of the Holy Prophet (saw)'shadith : "Surely your Lord has a right against you, your self has a right against yourself and your wife has a right against you."

The treatise was written on the request of one of his companions and in it he explains that everyone possesses a right, which he goes on to outline in detail. With each right he explains, he tries to corroborate it with verses from the Holy Quran, thesunnah and the actions of earlier Imams.

The Arabic word 'haq ' is often translated as 'right'. However, a glance at the 'Treatise on Rights' will show that it would have been more appropriate to translate it as duties, obligations or responsibilities. This is because the Imam is not directly concerned with the rights of the individual, but rather with the rights of others, which the individual must observe. Below is a description of the 'Right of your Companion':

"The right of your companion is that you act as his companion with bounty and in fairness. Youhonour him as hehonours youan you do not let him be the first to act withgenorsity . If he is the first, you repay him. You wish for him as he wishes for you and you restrain him from any act of disobedience he might attempt. Be a mercy for him, not a chastisement.and there is no strength save in God."

Sayings of Imam Ali (as)

1.Amirul Momineen (A.S) said: How wonderful is a man that speaks with fat, talks with a piece of flesh, hears with a bone and breathes through a hole.

2.Amirul Momineen (A.S) said: Meet people in such a manner that if you die they should weep for you and if you live they should long for you.

3.Amirul Momineen (A.S) said: When you gain power over your adversary pardon him by way of thanks for being able to over-power him.

4.Amirul Momineen (A.S) said: the most helpless of all men is he who cannot find a few brothers during his age, but still more helpless is he who finds such a brother but loses him.

5.Amirul Momineen , peacebe upon him, said: O' son of Adam when you see that Allah is bestowing Hisfavours on you while you are disobeying Him, you should fear Him.

6.Amirul Momineen (A.S) said: Keep walking in your sickness till you can.

7.Amirul Momineen (A.S) said: Fear! Fear! By Allah, He has hidden your sins so much so as He has forgiven.

8.Amirul Momineen (A.S) said: the best richesis abandonment of desires.

9.Amirul Momineen (A.S) said: Super numerate prayers cannot bring about nearness to Allah if they hamper obligatory ones.

10.Amirul Momineen (A.S) said: the tongue of the wise man is behind his heart and the heart of a fool is behind his tongue.

11.Amirul Momineen (A.S) said to a companion during his sickness: Allah may make your illness a means for writing off your sins, because there is no reward for sickness but it erases sins and makes them fall like (dried) leaves: Reward lies in saying by tongue and doing something with hands and feet. Certainly Allah, the Glorified admits into Paradise by virtue of truthfulness of intention and chastity of heart, whomever He wishes from among His people.

12.Amirul Momineen (A.S) said: Victory is by determination; determination is by revolving of thoughts and thoughts are formed by guarding secrets.

13.Amirul Momineen (A.S) said: With riches a strange land is homeland, while with destitution even homeland is a strange land.

14.Amirul Momineen (A.S) said: Contentment is wealth that does not diminish.

15.Amirul Momineen (A.S) said: Wealth is the fountainhead of passions.

16.Amirul Momineen (A.S) said: Whoever warns youis like one who gives you good tidings.

17.Amirul Momineen (A.S) said: the tongue is like beast; if it is let loose, it would devour.

18.Amirul Momineen (A.S) said: Woman is like a scorpion whose grip is sweet.

19.Amirul Momineen (A.S) said: the people of the world are liketravellers who are being carried while they are asleep.

20.Amirul Momineen (A.S) said: Do not feel ashamed for giving a little, because refusal ismore little than that.

21.Amirul Momineen (A.S) said: the breath of a man is a step towards death.

22. It is related that whenZerar binZamma Zubabi went toMuawiya and

23.Muawiya enquired from him aboutAmirul Momineen (A.S), he said, " I stand witness that I have seen him on several occasions that night had spread and he was standing in the niche (of the mosque) holding his beard, groaning like a man bitten by snake and weeping as a grieved man, saying: O' world, O' world. Get away from me. Why do you present yourself to me? Or are you eager for me? You may not get that opportunity to impress me. Deceive some other person. I have no concern with you. I have divorced you thricewhereafter there is no restitution. Your life is short, your importance is little and your liking is humble. Alas!the provision is little, the way is long, the journey is far, extending and the goal is hard to get to."

24.Amirul Momineen (A.S) said: about a man who praised him much, although he did not admire him. I am below what you express and above what you feel in your heart.

25.Amirul Momineen (A.S) said: the survivors of a battle are large in number and have large progeny.

26.Amirul Momineen (A.S) said: Whoever gives up saying "I do not know" meets destruction.

27.Amirul Momineen (A.S) said: I love the opinion of an old man more than the determination of a young man; or according to another version, more than the martyrdom of a young man.

28.Amirul Momineen (A.S) said: If a man behaves properly in matters between himself and Allah, then Allah keeps proper the maters between him and other people, and if a man keeps proper his affairs of the next life then Allah keeps proper for him the affairs of this world. Whoever is a preacher forhimself is protected by Allah.

29.Amirul Momineen (A.S) heard about aKharijite that he says mid-night prayer and recitesQu'ran ,then he said: Sleeping in the state of firm belief is better than praying in the state of doubtfulness.

30.Amirul Momineen (A.S) said: When you hear a tradition test it according to the criterion of intelligence not that of mere hearing, because relaters of knowledge are numerous but those who guard it are few.

31. Whoever loves us, members of the Prophet's family, should be prepared to face destitution.

32. It was said toAmirul Momineen (A.S) " How are youAmirul Momineen ?" and he replied: " How can he be whom life is driving towards death, whose state of healthiness can change into sickness any moment and who is to be caught (by death) from his place of safety?"

33.Amirul Momineen (A.S) said: there are many people who are given time (by Allah) through goo treatment towards them, and manyget into deception because their sinful activities are veiled (by Allah) and many who getenamoured by good talk about themselves.and Allah does not try anyone as seriously as He tries him whom He allows time (to remain sinful).

34.Amirul Momineen (A.S) said: Two categories of persons will face ruin on account of me- he who loves me with exaggeration and he who hates me with intensely.

35.Amirul Momineen (A.S) said: the example of the world is like a serpent. It is soft in touch but its inside is full of venom. An ignorant person who has fallen in deceit is attracted towards it but a wise and intelligent man keeps on guard from it.

36.Amirul Momineen (A.S) said: What a difference there is between two kinds of actions- an act whose pleasure passes away but it (ill) consequence remains and the act whose hardship passes away but its reward stays.

37.Amirul Momineen (A.S) said: Blessed be he who humbles himself, whose livelihood is pure, whose habits are virtuous, who spends his savings (in the name of Allah), who prevents his tongue from speaking rot, who keeps people safe from his evil, who is pleased with the (Prophets)Sunnah and who is unconnected with innovation (in religion).

38.Amirul Momineen (A.S) said: Guard against cold in its beginning (of the season) and welcome it towards its end because it affects bodies in the same way as it affects the plants.in the beginning it destroys them but in the end it gives them fresh leaves.

39. WhenAmirul Momineen , (A.S) returned fromSiffin and noticed the graves outsideKufa , he said: O' residents of houses, which give a sense of loneliness, of depopulated areas and gloomy graves? O' people of the dust, O' victims of strangeness, O' people of loneliness and O' people of desolateness! You have gone ahead and preceded us while we are following you and will meet you.the houses (you left) have been inhabited by others; the wives (you left) have been married by others; the properties have been distributed (among heirs). This is the news about those around us; what is the news about things around you?

40.Amirul Momineen (A.S) said: Loving one another is half wisdom.

41.Amirul Momineen (A.S) said: Grief is half old age.

Prophet Muhammad's (s.a.w ) Last Sermon

(This Sermon wasDelivered on the Ninth Day ofDhul Hijjah 10 A.H. in theUranah Valley of Mount Arafat)

O People, lend me an attentive ear, for I don't know whether, after this year, I shall ever be amongst you again.therefore listen to what I am saying to you carefully and take these words to those who could not be present here today.

O People, just as you regard this month, this day,this city as Sacred, so regard the life and property of every Muslim as a sacred trust. Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners. Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you. Remember that you will indeed meet your lord, and that He will indeed reckon your deeds. Allah has forbidden you to take usury (interest), therefore all interest obligation shall henceforth be waived.

Beware of Satan, for your safety of your religion. He has lost all hope that he will ever be able to lead you astray in big things, so beware of following him in small things.

O People, it is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women, but they also have right over you. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners andcomitted helpers.and it is your right that they do not make friends with any one of whom you do not approve, as well as never to commit adultery.

O People, listen to me in earnest, worship Allah, say your five daily prayers (salah ), fast during the month ofRamadhan , and give your wealth inzakat . Perform hajj if you can afford to. You know that every Muslim is the brother of another Muslim. You are all equal. Nobody has superiority over other except by piety and good action.

Remember, one day you will appear before Allah and answer for your deeds. So beware, do not stray from the path of righteousness after I am gone. O People, no prophet or apostle will come after me and no new faith will be born. Reason well, therefore, O People, and understand my words which I convey to you. I leave behind me two things, the Qur'an and my example, theSunnah and if you follow these you will never go astray. All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again; and may the last ones understand my words better than those who listen to me directly. Be my witness O Allah that I have conveyed your message to your people.

Companionship and Friendship in Islam

There are friends who remain true and trustful under all circumstances and there are friends who remain with you only desiring the good. Islam urges to have cordial relations with others and to avoid corruption and the harmful effects of the company of the wicked and the mischievous, strictly forbidding every kind of contact and intimacy with them.

The firstkind of friend are very few, and their friendship is like a mirror to you.in deed , we must be fair to our friends, and must want for them that which we want for ourselves. Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w ) said, "A true believer is a mirror to his brother. He prevents him from any harm." Friends wish well for their friends, and feel a strong grief when they see them in any kind of distress or suffering.they work hard by all means, by their wealth and their hands to restore the rights of their friends, and give them all the help they need.they keep the secrets of their friends.

This kind of friendship is the basic necessity of social life. Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w ) said, "A person follows the ways and conducts of his friends." On the other hand, one encounters fools, avaricious, people cowards, and liars.the fool wants to help others, but cause more harm to them despite good intentions.the avaricious one takes but does not give back to anyone.the coward flees at the smallest danger, abandoning everyone.and the liar does not benefit others, brings animosity and resentment, and causes serious damage to others. Also, the liar is not trusted even if he/she is telling the truth. It is reported, "As for a liar, life with him can never be pleasant for you. He carries tales from you to others and from others to you.

If he gives you a true report, a false one follows it. His reputation is slurred. So much so that when he says something true, nobody believes him. Due to the enmity which he entertains in his heart for people, he estranges them from one another and creates malice in their hearts. Be careful and do your duty to Allah." these kinds of individuals might call themselves as your friends, but they do more ill-service to you as well as to the society and in the long run. It isadviced , "Avoid the company of the vicious, because your character would pick up their degenerate and deviant qualities without your knowing it. " The Glorious Qur'ansays,"O woe is me!Would that I had not taken such a one as my friend." 25:28

There are many characterizes of true friends: their heart and face should bealike, they should be honest with their friends and show them both the good and the bad side: wealth and children should not change them; they should help whenever able to do so, and they should not leave their friends during difficulties.

To choose a friend, one must assess his real worth. One must bear in mind that temperaments and personalities are associated with one, relationships with others. Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w ) said, "Every Muslim should try to select the best companion for the life span. A companion could be a friend from the same gender. If the companion is to be from the other gender, then that companion should be a spouse to live together within the confines of rules and regulations." Our beloved Prophet (s.a.w ) encouraged us to select a good friend with whom to share our feelings. He said, "Don't take a companion unless he is a believer; and don't let your food be eaten except by a godly person. " Also, one must take a friend for who he or she is as an individual, and not force them to conformwith one's warp and ideas, so long as everything remains within the boundaries of Islam.

Muslims are advised by the Prophet (s.a.w ) to select a good friend to associate with, and to have him as a social companion in life. By selecting a good companion, to be a friend, a Muslim enriches his/her life. Prophet (s.a.w ) said, "The similitude of a good companion is like an owner of musk; if you don't get anything, you will get the smell of it.the similitude of a bad companion is like the blacksmith's bellows; if you are not affected by its black dirt, you will be touched by its smoke."

Islam approves associating with individuals who have violated moral and social laws for the purpose of helping them through beneficial guidance. Friends of the right path father and discuss what is beneficial, but not vain. Friends love the souls and smells of their friends. Friends sympathies with their friends and they comfort each other. Friends exert each other toward piety and righteous deeds. Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w ) said, "Fear Allah and help each other for the sake of Allah. Have mercy upon each other. Visit each other and remember our matter and keep it alive."

However, one who keeps company for the sake of helping afriend, would have fulfilled the rights of companionship in the worthiest manner. It is reported, "When someone observes a friend taking a wrong and sinful course and, while possessing the capacity to restrain him, does not do so out of indifference, he has actually betrayed his friend."

Today, in this world of ignorance and personal desires, there are few who keep their friendship. Hence, everyone should be careful in choosing friends, and study the character of those with whom they wish to develop terms of friendship.