Friendship and Tingz
Jummah Mubarak sis!
How important is friendship, sisterhood, etc.? Did you know the Prophet Muhammad (saw) would send gifts to the friends of Khadijat (as) and vice versa. The companions were not only friends of the Prophet (saw), but they were brothers of the Prophet (saw). The lives of the Sahaba are full of stories and morals that reflect the teachings of Islam. They loved their brother (saw), they cried with him, they learned with him, etc. There are so many examples of the importance of companionship in the Quran and in Hadith that we can take from and apply to our lives. May Allah swt grant us Companions who are good for us and will increase us in the deen. Allahuma Ameen
Az-Zukhruf 43:67 (The Ornaments of Gold)
اَلۡاَخِلَّاۤءُ يَوۡمَـئِذٍۢ بَعۡضُهُمۡ لِبَعۡضٍ عَدُوٌّ اِلَّا الۡمُتَّقِيۡنَ ؕ
“On that Day even bosom friends shall become enemies to one another, all except the God-fearing.”
Imagine having friendships for the sake of Allah swt and that benefiting you in the hereafter. This verse tells us that the only friendships that will remain unaffected are those based on righteousness and piety in the world, while other friendships will turn into enmities. This subject is found in many places in the Quran to serve as a reminder for the true purpose of being here on earth. It‘s important to choose friends wisely as it might give rise to regret and harm in the hereafter.
While there are many benefits of friendships, the best one is for the sake of Allah and the baraqah you gain from those spaces. They say birds of a feather flock together, so maybe it‘s true.... choose your flock carefully.
ICNA 2024
Friendships are Best In-Person
Research suggests that to thrive, we need to physically meet with our friends on a regular basis. Humans are social animals, and being surrounded by friends lowers our risk for many diseases and illnesses. Data collected from a gerontological study in Japan showed that men who spent little time with their friends had a 30% higher mortality risk than those who enjoyed more frequent contact.
Studies have also found that people who are socially isolated produce more cortisol throughout the day. Increased cortisol has been associated with cardiovascular disease and a higher overall mortality risk. The benefits of face-to-face interactions may be related to smell as well! When our noses pick up the body odor of other people, for example, we tend to pick up their emotions, too: from anxiety and fear to happiness.
Allah swt blessed us with people from many tribes and nations to know one another and to benefit from one another. The fact that the smell of your loved ones alone can boost your mood, is amazing… Alhamdulliah
