In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
It is extremely important to have righteous companions. If your friends are of the righteous, they will pull you towards what is good and encourage you to do what is pleasing to Allah, that which will take you to Paradise, by the Mercy of Allah. If your friends are of the heedless of Allah, they will pull you towards what is bad and encourage you to do what is pleasing to Shaytan, that which can lead you to the Hellfire.
Therefore, choose your friends wisely.
Qualities to look for in a friend: Faith, Good Moral Character, Righteousness and God-fearing, those who remember Allah often.
Faith:
Faith should be the first criterion for a meaningful friendship.
وَٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَآءُ بَعْضٍ ۚ يَأْمُرُونَ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ ٱلْمُنكَرِ وَيُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَيُطِيعُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥٓ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ سَيَرْحَمُهُمُ ٱللَّهُ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ ﴿٧١[Qur'an, At-Tawba 9:71]
The believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and establish prayer and give zakah and obey Allah and His Messenger. Those - Allah will have mercy upon them. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise. (71)
Therefore, the friendship based on the correct faith aims towards supporting and encouraging one another towards the obedience of Allah. Its goal is much more sublime than the friendship that is done for worldly gain, and amongst its benefits is that it is a means to safeguard one's belief from being tainted with incorrect beliefs and practices.
Good Moral Character:
It is necessary that the friends you choose have good character and possess Islamic morals and etiquettes. Good character is a sign of excellence in Iman.
It is essential that those whom you choose as friends recognize and respect the limits of Allah. For example, they should understand the Islamic etiquettes of speaking and language, for sometimes talks among friends can go beyond bounds, like one may be involved in sins like Gheebah (backbiting), slandering, etc. which are generally considered to be very insignificant, but can have disastrous affect on one's Hereafter.
The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said, 'Beware of sins which are treated as being minor; just like a people who encamp in the center of a valley, so someone brings a stick of firewood and someone else brings a stick until they are able to bake their bread. Likewise, sins which are treated as being minor and for which the person is taken to account will destroy him.' [Musnad Ahmad and others]
It is related that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa-sallam) was once passing through one of the graveyards of Medina or Makkah; he heard voices of two persons who were being tortured in their graves. The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said, 'These two person are being tortured, (but) not for a major sin.' He further added, 'Yes. Indeed, one of them never saved himself from being soiled with his urine while the other used to go about with calumnies (to make enmity between friends).' [al-Bukhari]
The importance of good character is also manifest in the Hadeeth of Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) who said, "Nothing will be heavier on the Day of Resurrection in the scale of the believer than good manners. Allah hates one who utters foul or coarse language.' [At-Tirmidhi]
The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa-sallam) was asked about the deed, which will be foremost to lead a man to Jannah, he replied, 'Fear of Allah and the good character.' Then he was asked about the indulgence, which will admit a man to Hell and he replied, 'The tongue and the genitals.' [At-Tirmidhi]
Righteousness and God-fearing:
Allah Most High calls upon the believer to fear Him and tells us how we can accomplish that--by being with the truthful-- those who are true in what they say and what they do.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَكُونُوا۟ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ ﴿١١٩[Qur'an, At-Tawba 9:119]
O you who have believed, fear Allah and be with those who are true (in words and in deeds). (119)
It was said that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, "Men are of two types, a man who is righteous, fearful of Allah and honorable to Allah, or a man who is vicious, miserable and insignificant to Allah, the Exalted."
The best of people to befriend are those who possess Taqwa (conscious, fear of Allah.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَـٰكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلْنَـٰكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَآئِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَتْقَىٰكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ ﴿١٣﴾[Qur'an, al-Hujurat 49:13]
O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted. (13)
تِلْكَ ٱلْجَنَّةُ ٱلَّتِى نُورِثُ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا مَن كَانَ تَقِيًّا ﴿٦٣[Qur'an, Maryam 19:63]
That is Paradise, which We give as inheritance to those of Our servants who were fearing of Allah. (63)
Islam gives precedence to Taqwa in all matters, for example, in cases of marriage while choosing a life partner - Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) stressed upon choosing a righteous spouse, The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said, 'A women is married for four (reasons); her wealth, her nobility, her beauty and her piety. Choose the pious one and you will be successful.' [al-Bukhari]
He (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) also said, 'If a man, whose practice of the religion satisfies you, asks you for your daughter in marriage, you should marry them; otherwise, there will be corruption on the Earth.' [At-Tirmidhi]
Choosing a friend is as important as choosing a life partner, therefore the wise choice are the Muttaqoon (those who possess Taqwa).
Ali bin Abu Talib (radhi allahu anhu) advised, 'Befriend righteous people, for they are a good resource to use in this and the last life.
Benefits of accompanying righteous people are numerous, amongst which is improving one's religion. As people are always found to be competitive within friends, associating with righteous individuals inspires competing them in righteous deeds, thus expanding the scope of performing righteous deeds and perfecting the religion.
Narrated Abu Musa, it was said to the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam), 'A man may love some people but he cannot catch up with their good deeds?'
The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said, 'Everyone will be with those whom he loves.' [al-Bukhari]
قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِ ٱسْتَعِينُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱصْبِرُوٓا۟ ۖ إِنَّ ٱلْأَرْضَ لِلَّهِ يُورِثُهَا مَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِۦ ۖ وَٱلْعَـٰقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿١٢٨﴾[Qur'an, al-A'raf 7:128]
Said Moses to his people, "Seek help through Allah and be patient. Indeed, the earth belongs to Allah. He causes to inherit it whom He wills of His servants. And the [best] outcome is for the righteous." (128)
Consider the example of the Sahabah (radhi allahu anhu), they were only second in righteousness to Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wa-sallam), because they were so close to the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa-sallam) - the most pious. Also, a number of narrations show that the Sahabah (radhi allahu anhu) would compete with each other in performing righteous deeds and achieving high ranks with Allah.
For instance, 'Umar (radhi allahu anhu) said, 'The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) ordered us to give charity at a time when I had some money. I said to myself, 'This day, if ever, I will be ahead of Abu Bakr (radhi allahu anhu).' I brought half of my money and the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa-sallam) asked me, 'What have you left for your family?' I said, 'A similar amount.' Abu Bakr brought all he had and the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) asked him, 'What have you left for your family?' He said, 'I left for them Allah and His Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wa-sallam).' So, I said to myself, 'I will never compete with you again.' [Abu Dawood and at-Tirmidhi]
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَتَّخِذُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ دِينَكُمْ هُزُوًا وَلَعِبًا مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ وَٱلْكُفَّارَ أَوْلِيَآءَ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ ﴿٥٧[Qur'an, al-Maidah 5:57]
O you who have believed, take not those who have taken your religion in ridicule and amusement among the ones who were given the Scripture before you nor the disbelievers as allies. And fear Allah, if you should [truly] be believers. (57)
Remember Allah Often:
Our companions and environment should help us remember Allah because we are ordered to remember Allah at all times. Remembrance of Allah strengthens the slave's bond with His Creator and prevents his heart and mind from being heedless of Divine guidelines and limits.
Abu Hurayrah (radhi allahu anhu) reported the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) saying, 'If anyone sits in a gathering where he does not remember Allah, he will bring grief upon himself (on the Day of Resurrection), and he who lies down in a place where he does not remember Allah, will bring grief upon himself (on the Day of Resurrection).' [Abu Dawood]
The superiority of the remembrance of Allah was explained by Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wasallam), who said: "The example of the one who remembers his Lord, in comparison to the one who does not remember his Lord, is that of a living creature compared to a dead.' [al-Bukhari]
In the present time of trials and tribulations, it is very easy to be caught up in worldly affairs. Allah warns His slaves against associating with those who busy themselves in worldly pleasures and give no heed to the remembrance of Allah.
Allah Most High says,
وَٱصْبِرْ نَفْسَكَ مَعَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُم بِٱلْغَدَوٰةِ وَٱلْعَشِىِّ يُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَهُۥ ۖ وَلَا تَعْدُ عَيْنَاكَ عَنْهُمْ تُرِيدُ زِينَةَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَلَا تُطِعْ مَنْ أَغْفَلْنَا قَلْبَهُۥ عَن ذِكْرِنَا وَٱتَّبَعَ هَوَىٰهُ وَكَانَ أَمْرُهُۥ فُرُطًا ﴿٢٨[Qur'an, Al-Kahf `8:28]
And keep yourself patient [by being] with those who call upon their Lord in the morning and the evening, seeking His countenance. And let not your eyes pass beyond them, desiring adornments of the worldly life, and do not obey one whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance and who follows his desire and whose affair is ever [in] neglect. (28)
The Qur'an informs us that on the Day of Judgment there will be people who will bite their hands in regret that they were lead astray because of choosing wrong people as their friends, they would say,
وَيَوْمَ يَعَضُّ ٱلظَّالِمُ عَلَىٰ يَدَيْهِ يَقُولُ يَـٰلَيْتَنِى ٱتَّخَذْتُ مَعَ ٱلرَّسُولِ سَبِيلًا ﴿٢٧[Qur'an, al-Furqan 25:27]
And the Day the wrongdoer will bite on his hands [in regret] he will say, "Oh, I wish I had taken with the Messenger a way. (27)
Whereas, those who help one another in piety, truth and remembrance of Allah will surely benefit each other in the Hereafter. Allah will grant them His Shade on the Day of Judgment and He says,
ٱلْأَخِلَّآءُ يَوْمَئِذٍۭ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ عَدُوٌّ إِلَّا ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿٦٧[Qur'an, az-Zukhruf 43:67]
Friends on that day will be enemies to another except Al-Muttaqoon (Godfearing).
May Allah make us of His righteous servants, and grant us righteous companions and environment. Ameen.
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.
And Allah knows best and He alone grants success.
Wassalaam
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