Friendship has deep influence in directing the spirit and the mind and it has important results in what happens to the group from improvement or retardation and worry or concern. Islam placed great concern over these relationships that if it were noble and sincere for Allah�s sake it they would be accepted and blessed by Him and if it were dirty and cheap they will not be accepted at all.

Allah said:
Friends on that Day will be foes, one to another; except the Righteous. 34:67

Islam is a religion of grouping and intimacy not a religion of seclusion and loneliness.
The Prophet pbuh said, �The believer who mingles with people and is tolerant to their harms is better than the believer who doesn�t mix with people and is not tolerant to their harms.�

And the larger the group is the more rewards one gets. The Prophet said, �One�s Salat with another is better than one�s Salat alone and his Salat with two is better than with another one and the more they are, it would be the most beloved to Allah almighty.�

Islam knows that people are different kinds, from them is the one who likes groupings and gatherings and finds in him an appeal to these situations and from them is one who builds walls around him from which he glances at people cautiously.
Islam addressed both natures. For the first one it says, �Mingle with people but don�t harm your religion.� And for the other one it says, �A believer is lenient, easy going, intimate and likes intimacy.�

But in situations of total corruption when there is no use in calling for good and abstaining from evil leaving people and seeking seclusion is better than sharing when there is no other way for one to keep hold of his religion. The Prophet said when asked about the best of people he said, �A believer who fights with his money and himself for the sake of Allah." Then who he was asked he said, �A man in seclusion in a valley worshipping his lord.�

Islam celebrated the sincere and pure emotions of friendship and urged believers to dedicate it for the sake of Allah alone and set a fine reward for it. The Prophet pbuh said, �Allah almighty said: Those who love each other in my grace are shaded by the shade of my throne in a day there is no shade but mine.�

And in another Hadeeth the Prophet said that Allah said, �My love is due for those who love each other for my sake. And my love is due for those who visit for my sake. And my love is due for those who dedicate each other for my sake. And my love is due for those who become friends for my sake.�

One should be extremely careful when choosing his friends. The Prophet pbuh said, �A person is on the religion (way) of his friend so look to whom you are a friend to.�

Because a great friend would lead his friend to success both in this life and the hereafter but a foolish reckless friend is a bad omen to his friend.
Allah said:
The Day that the wrong-doer will bite at his hands, he will say, "Oh! Would that I had taken a (straight) path with the messenger! "Ah! Woe is me! Would that I had never taken such a one for a friend! He did lead me astray from the Message (of Allah) after it had come to me! Ah! The Evil One is but a traitor to man! [25:27-29]
One acquires natures from other people�s natures. And it was witnessed that evil deeds are contagious in the same way as non-smokers might catch the diseases smokers do just from mingling with them.

In order to protect good manners and generous habits the Prophet pbuh ordered us to be careful when choosing a place to sit in with others so he said:
�A good sitter is like the one who sells perfumes even if you don�t buy from him you still get a nice smell. And the bad sitter is like a blacksmith that if you don�t get burned from the fire he works with you get annoyed by the smoke coming out from his place.�

Allah said:
They will be of no use to thee in the sight of Allah: it is only wrongdoers (that stand as) protectors, one to another: but Allah is the Protector of the Righteous. These are clear evidences to men, and a Guidance and Mercy to those of assured Faith. [25:27-29]

Allah described the atheists when they are under suffering in Hell fire:
By Allah, we were truly in an error manifest. When we held you as equals with the Lord of the Worlds; And our seducers were only those who were steeped in guilt. Now, then, we have none to intercede (for us). Nor a single friend to feel (for us). [26:97-101]

And because of what is related to these friendships from enormous rights the Prophet pbuh said, �Don�t be friend with except with a believer, and only pious eat from your food."

And to end this we mention the Prophet�s Hadeeth about the way one should act toward his friends, �The best companions before Allah is one who is best to his friends and the best of neighbors before Allah is the one who is the best to his neighbors.�

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