💐 In The Name Of Allah The Most Gracious The Most Merciful
💌 Genuine friends, although they are very rare to find, all have some common qualities:
1] Reciprocity: They return your favors, they mutually like you just as you respect them, and the friendship produces pleasant vibes because it is not one-sided.
2] Sincerity or truthfulness: They try their best to stay honest with you. They avoid purposely telling lies and being deceitful. If ever they break a promise or they've offended you, they're quick to apologize or do something good to compensate for their wrongs.
3] Eagerness to see you improve: Befriending them for Allah's sake motivates you to become a better version of yourself. They generously share their Islamic knowledge with you, correct you when you're wrong, and give sincere advice when you ask for consultation. They can't envy you, and they don't view you as a threat or competition.
4] Willingness to listen and readiness to protect your secrets:
You can Inn-sha-Allah trust them as they're not into gossiping, betraying and making fun of others. They don't force you to unwillingly give them all the details when you confide in them, since they readily understand your need for privacy at times. Even if you haven't spoken to each other for several days, once you reach out to them, you resume talking and discussing issues comfortably as though you're best friends whose level of care doesn't reduce by distance.
5] Sincerely loving you for your heart, piety and faith/Imaan instead of your looks, money or status in society: They do not criticize you for your outward appearance, income and accomodation. What they are more interested in is your connection with Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala and how you can assist one another become more successful Muslims.
Allah the Most Merciful is the Only True Friend Whom we can always depend on since He has the above traits:
1) When we do Tawbah and return to Allah the Almighty, He Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala guides us more to what brings us closer to Him and Jannah Paradise.
2) Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala never breaks any promises as He stated in Surah Aal-'Imraan verse nine. When Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala guarantees to have a Du'a responded, He knows when to answer His servants' supplications at the most ideal time.
3) Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala expects us to be the best Muslim servants as we can be, always guiding us to do what is right and preventing us from what He knows is more harmful than beneficial.
4) Allah the All-Hearing is at all times ready to listen to our prayers, especially late at night when most people are asleep. Unlike humans who generally get annoyed if we continuously request them to do favors for us, Allah the Most Kind loves it when He hears our Du'as, emphasizing He Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala is the Only One Whom we can rely on to survive in both worlds.
5) Another quality that proves how Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala is the Only One deserving of our love and attention is His focus on how our hearts are instead of how we appear on the outside. Some people befriend you only to boost their influence in their community or to upgrade their reputation, while Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala judges us by our good actions accompanied by our niyyah/intention. Regardless of how many friends on earth a person has, if they haven't earned Allah's Love and Guidance, they didn't gain anything of significance.
Reminder to include the Muslim Ummah in your Du'as today Jumuah Friday before Maghreb prayer.
📖 Abu Dharr RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, “Allah the Almighty says: 'Whoever comes with a good deed will have the reward of ten like it and even more. Whoever comes with an evil deed will be recompensed for one evil deed like it or he will be forgiven. Whoever draws close to Me by the length of a hand, I will draw close to him by the length of an arm. Whoever draws close to Me the by length of an arm, I will draw close to him by the length of a fathom. Whoever comes to Me walking, I will come to him running. Whoever meets Me with enough sins to fill the earth, not associating any idols with Me, I will meet him with as much forgiveness.”
Source: Sahih Muslim 2687
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Muslim
📖 ‘Amr ibn ‘Abasah RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, “Allah the Almighty said: 'My love is a right upon those who befriend each other for My Sake. My love is a right upon those who defend each other for My Sake.”
Source: Al-Mu’jam Al-Ṣaghīr 1092
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Al-Albani
📖 Abu Huraira RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, “Allah the Almighty says: 'I am as My servant expects Me and I am with him as he remembers Me. If he remembers Me in himself, I will remember him in Myself. If he mentions Me in a gathering, I will mention him in a greater gathering. When he draws near Me by the span of his hand, I draw near him by the length of a cubit. When he draws near Me by the length of a cubit, I draw near him by the length of a fathom. When he comes to Me walking, I come to him running.'”
Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari 6970, Sahih Muslim 2675
Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi (Authenticity agreed upon) according to Al-Bukhari and Muslim