1. Module 5 – Circle 5 Good Company

2. Why should we care about our company? Umar (ra), said that the Prophet pbuh, said: "It is incumbent upon you to be with the Muslim group and you must avoid disunity. The Satan is with a single person and it is far from two persons." [Tirmidhi] Module 5 – Circle 5

3. Can good company make a difference to whether we enter Paradise of Hell? Allah swt says in the Quran: And (remember) the Day when the wrong-doer will bite his hands and say: Woe to me! Would that I had taken a path with the Messenger. Woe to me! If only I had not taken so- and-so as a friend! He has led me astray from this Reminder (the Quran) after it had come to me. And Satan is ever a deserter to man in the hour of need. Quran 25:27-29

4. Can your friends effect your Religion? Prophet Muhammad pbuh said: A person is likely to follow the faith of his friend, so look at whom you befriend. [Tirmidhi & Abu Dawud] Module 5 – Circle 5

5. What did the Prophet pbuh advise us about how company can effect us? The Prophet pbuh said: The example of a good companion and a bad companion is like that of the seller of musk, and the one who blows the blacksmiths bellows.. So as for the seller of musk then either he will grant you some, or you buy some from him, or at least you enjoy a pleasant smell from him. As for the one who blows the blacksmiths bellows then either he will burn your clothes or you will get an offensive smell from him. (Bukhari & Muslim)

6. Module 5 – Circle 5 Should we choose who to befriend? Abu Hurairah, reported that the Prophet pbuh said: Man models himself after his companion; so let each one of you see who he chooses for companion (Tirmidhi).

7. Module 5 – Circle 5 Can our company effect our characters/manners/prayers? Another scholar said: keeping good company with the pious results in attainment of beneficial knowledge, noble manners and righteous actions, whereas keeping company with the wicked prevents all of that.

8. Module 5 – Circle 5 Good friends make you aware of your faults The Prophet pbuh said The Believer is the mirror of the Believer. (Abu Dawud)

9. Module 5 – Circle 5 Spend time with people who are better Muslims than you If you want to become a better footballer, it is best to play with and against people who are better than you. This way, you learn from their tactics, and improve your game. If you are a good footballer and always play against Nursery School children, you will never become better at your game.

10. Module 5 – Circle 5 Should we be concerned about our Facebook / BBM / WhatsApp Friends? Remember that if you make friends with people on-line who are not good Muslims, you will automatically be associated with them. If you find that your on-line friends are posting inappropriate things which appear in your feed, advise them against it. If they dont pay attention, it is best to remove them from your friends list.

11. Module 5 – Circle 5 Will your friends who always looked out for you in this life be of benefit in the next life if they are bad people? Allah, the All-Wise also says: Friends on that Day will be enemies one to another, except al-Muttaqoon (i.e. those who have Taqwah). Quran 43:67

12. Module 5 – Circle 5 The Cool Kidz Amina started a new School and within a few weeks realised that some girls in her class were the most popular in the school. She began to hang around with the cool girls who happened to be quite naughty. At lunchtime, they would hide behind the Science block and smoke cigarettes. Amina was a good Muslim and knew it was haraam to smoke, so refused to smoke when they asked her to join in. She thought that she was strong enough to be with the popular girls without being influenced in a bad way. She thought that she may even have a good effect on them, as she was a Good Muslim. Over the months, the girls convinced Amina to have just one puff of a cigarette. She eventually agreed, and within a few weeks began to smoke as regularly as the other girls.

13. Module 5 – Circle 5 The Wise Father Saleem and Shahid were the best of friends. They could not do anything without each other. In their time, eduction was not free, and not most people could afford to send their children to school. Saleems father was a poor man, but wanted to educate Saleem. Shahids parents had no money at all, and had no chance of sending Shahid to School. Saleems father knew that in order for Saleem to become a great man, he would need great friends. So, he decided to sacrifice everything he had, and send both Saleem and Shahid to School. Both friends excelled academically, and remained good Muslims for life.

14. Module 5 – Circle 5 The amazing reward of being in good company Allah 's Apostle said, "Allah has some angels who look for those who celebrate the Praises of Allah on the roads and paths. And when they find some people celebrating the Praises of Allah, they call each other, saying, "Come to the object of your pursuit.' " He added, "Then the angels encircle them with their wings up to the sky of the world." He added. "(after those people celebrated the Praises of Allah, and the angels go back), their Lord, asks them (those angels) - though He knows better than them - 'what do my slaves say?' The angels reply, 'They say: Subhan Allah, Allahu Akbar, and Alham-du-lillah, Allah then says 'Did they see Me?' The angels reply, 'No! By Allah, they didn't see You.' Allah says, How it would have been if they saw Me?' The angels reply, 'If they saw You, they would worship You more devoutly and celebrate Your Glory more deeply, and declare Your freedom from any resemblance to anything more often.' Allah says (to the angels), 'What do they ask Me for?' The angels reply, 'They ask You for Paradise.' Allah says (to the angels), 'Did they see it?' The angels say, 'No! By Allah, O Lord! They did not see it.' Allah says, How it would have been if they saw it?' The angels say, 'If they saw it, they would have greater covetousness for it and would seek It with greater zeal and would have greater desire for it.' Allah says, 'From what do they seek refuge?' The angels reply, 'They seek refuge from the (Hell) Fire.' Allah says, 'Did they see it?' The angels say, 'No By Allah, O Lord! They did not see it.' Allah says, How it would have been if they saw it?' The angels say, 'If they saw it they would flee from it with the extreme fleeing and would have extreme fear from it.' Then Allah says, 'I make you witnesses that I have forgiven them."' Allah's Apostle added, "One of the angels would say, 'There was so- and-so amongst them, and he was not one of them, but he had just come for some need.' Allah would say, 'These are those people whose companions will not be reduced to misery.' " (Bukhari & Muslim)

15. Module 5 – Circle 5 A great Dua to learn O Allah! Grant me the company of the righteous in this world and raise me among the righteous in the Hereafter.