To own an honest friendship in the true sense of the words is a luxury in life. However, it is hard to find that kind of friendship in this virtual life other than to find it in the life history of the genuine faithful believers. The Prophet s.a.w guaranteed whoever owns a friendship that is built only for Allah’s sake then he will taste the sweetness of iman (faith). He said, “Whoever possesses the (following) three qualities will have the sweetness of faith (1): The one to whom Allah and His Apostle becomes dearer than anything else; (2) Who loves a person and he loves him only for Allah’s Sake; (3) who hates to revert to atheism (disbelief) as he hates to be thrown into the Fire.” (Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim)

The sweetness of sugarcane is hard to be imagined by one who has not had a taste of it. The sweetness of iman can only be savored and absorbed by the one who possesses it. Among the three qualities, the Prophet s.a.w stated that by loving someone only for Allah’s sake, one would taste the sweetness of iman. How then do we build the feeling of love towards someone only for Allah’s sake?

It is surely by knowing that our relation and love for him receives the blessing of Allah, probably because he is close to Allah, or because he can be a driving factor for us to be close to Allah. When this kind of feeling is developed, we will feel the pleasure of loving someone for Allah’s sake. Only this kind of relationship is able to bear the fruits of loyalty and sincerity that cannot be bought by rank, position and wealth.

That kind of friendship does not exist in the chaotic world of a person who befriends someone because of a specific interest or position or wealth. Allah says in al-Quran (translated as): “And (moreover) He hath put affection between their hearts: not if thou hadst spent all that is in the earth, couldst thou have produced that affection, but Allah hath done it: for He is Exalted in Might, wise.” (Surah al-Anfal: 63). It only exists in the realm of friendship that is built in the name of faith and Islam. Therefore, we can see that the loyalty among those fighting for Islam throughout the history was full with wonder.

They abolished from their life diary the words treachery, hatred and enmity and replaced them with the phrase, “I love you for Allah’s sake.” That love sustained in times when their companion was both at the top and at the bottom. It is because the point of reference to their friendship was the Most High and there is no end to Him, Allah the Most Exalted. Just look at the story of one of the Prophet’s companions Zaid bin al-Dathinah when he was captured by the leader of the Quraisy. When he was brought in to be executed, Abu Sufyan – at that time, he had not embraced Islam – asked him, “O Zaid! I would like to ask you by the name of Allah. Do you not prefer that Muhammad is in your place right now for us to behead him and you are with your family?” Zaid answered, “I do not like it if Muhammad is at the place he is in right now and is pricked by a thorn while I am with my family.” Abu Sufyan said, “I have never seen anyone loves someone as much as Muhammad’s companions love him.” ((Ibn Kathir, Al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah, 4/75 Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah).

Yes! This love was intended only to get rewards from Allah. This was the love of the true fighters among them.
It is the kind of friendship built for Allah’s sake. They give without asking for a return, they support without asking for compliments, they praise not because they have to, they sacrifice without asking for rewards. It is all done because they hope to get Allah’s rewards and that is the reason for their love and affection towards each other to bloom. Surely, the friendship is built on the foundation of rightness that always submits and obeys the commands of Allah and His Messenger. How beautiful this atmosphere is! Thus, Allah praises the Muhajirin (those who migrated from Makkah to al-Madeenah) and Ansar (citizens of al-Madeenah who gave aid to the Muhajirin).

Their affection to each other was recorded in al-Quran (translated as): “ (Some part is due) to the indigent Muhajirs, those who were expelled from their homes and their property, while seeking grace from Allah and (His) good pleasure, and aiding Allah and His Messenger. such are indeed the sincere ones but those who before them, had homes (in Medina) and had adopted the faith,- show their affection to such as came to them for refuge, and entertain no desire in their hearts for things given to the (latter), but give them preference over themselves, Even though poverty was their (own lot).

And those saved from the covetousness of their own souls, they are the ones that achieve prosperity. And those who came after them say: “Our Lord! Forgive us, and our brethren who came before us into the faith, and leave not, in our hearts, rancor (or sense of injury) against those who have believed. Our Lord! Thou art indeed full of kindness, Most Merciful.” (Surah al-Hasyr: 8-10). Only this kind of people could taste the sweetness of struggle they were upholding. Their ultimate destination and the path to take to get there were clear to them. They were free from the shackle of self-centeredness and the only thing left is the interest to realize the holy aspirations.

Therefore, there were no narrations about them trying to bring each other down due to fights over positions and ranks. Instead, they often wanted to give because their goal was to attain the blessing of Allah. That could not be achieved by trying to defeat each other among the fighters who had truthful intention and objective. Instead, blessing is attained by always helping each other out for Allah’s sake. If that is missing, then the struggle is only for achieving worldly gain and it is certainly full with bitterness although on the outside there is wealth and luxury.

In a hadith the Prophet s.a.w said, “There are people from the servants of Allah who are neither prophets nor martyrs; the prophets and martyrs will envy them on the Day of Resurrection for their rank from Allah, the Most High. They (the people) asked: Tell us, Apostle of Allah, who are they? He replied: They are people who love one another for the spirit of Allah (i.e. the Qur’an), without having any mutual kinship and giving property to one. I swear by Allah, their faces will glow and they will be (sitting) in (pulpits of) light. They will have no fear (on the Day) when the people will have fear, and they will not grieve when the people will grieve.

He then recited the following Qur’anic verse: “Behold! Verily for the friends of Allah there is no fear, nor shall they grieve.” (Reported by Abu Dawud, ranked as sahih by al-Albani). This is the group protected by Allah on the Day of Resurrection. In this world, they gain pleasure from having friendships that are honest and sincere and in the Day of Resurrection, they will be protected by Allah. The value of friendship does not lie in the money or opportunity given, or the status and seat being fed. It is all meaningless if there is a hidden agenda behind it.

Indeed, a sincere smile from a true friend is more meaningful than the world and its fill. The Prophet s.a.w said, “A smile to your brother is considered a charity.” (Reported by al-Tirmizi, ranked sahih by al-Albani)
We often hear stories about betrayal among friends in business, profession and politics. To listen to it is painful enough and it is even more painful to the soul experiencing it. How brittle friendship can be if it is built on each other’s self-interest. Being stabbed by the enemy is not as excruciating as being stabbed by a trusted friend. Being taken down by the enemy is not as devastating as being trounced by a fellow friend.

However, that is the reality in this virtual world for a relation among humans that is not built in the name of the Lord. If a person is sincere in a friendship but still betrayal occurs, it may mean that he makes a mistake in choosing a friend or the principles of struggle. Therefore, in choosing a friend, we need to see how his relation is with the Lord and on what basis we build friendship with him.

I feel that in the world of business and politics, true friendship is hard to find. It is not because business or politics is dirty since both are included in the teachings of Islam. However, if both fields were not guided by the teachings of Allah and His Messenger then those involved in them would become voracious, rude, full with pretence, unprincipled, unappreciative of their own friends, their speech and words are full with hypocrisy. Their self-interests sometimes are like God being worshipped. They will do anything to guard their self-interest even things that they will not do if commanded by the true God. He claims that he cannot afford to execute many of the commands of the religion but he will do a lot more if it involves his political interest or business. Allah says in surah al-Jathiah verse 23 (translated as): “Then seest thou such a one as takes as his god his own vain desire? Allah has, knowing (him as such), left him astray, and sealed his hearing and his heart (and understanding), and put a cover on his sight. Who, then, will guide him after Allah (has withdrawn guidance)? Will ye not then receive admonition?

How many politicians today are surrounded by followers who will vanish when their power disappears? On the day he is in power, everybody shouts their supports and revere him as if they are willing to live and die with him. However, when he can no longer afford to give them wealth, ranks and positions, probably they will not even shake hands with him when they come across him. We can see countless number of proofs for this, some are still alive and some are dead. Some even do not get any visit in their dying hour. However, if you are wealthy, people will show their faces to you even right to your grave. They do not think of your kindness but instead, they think of what is available to be inherited.

Without faith, there is no true affection in friendship. The affection being expressed does not necessarily come out from their hearts. Probably if you do the same thing on the day that you do not have any power or wealth, people will sneer at you and insult you. However, because of power and wealth, your ordinary look will be rated as attractive, your lame debate will be regarded as excellent, you backward opinions will be regarded as advanced, your moth-eaten ideas will be regarded as brilliant, your lifeless appearance will be said as shining. It is all sweet-talks done to ask for power and wealth. If you happen to live in that kind of climate, trust that the friendship and the followers claiming to be loyal are all lies. You actually live in a fantasy world, like a drunken man who thinks he sees a gorgeous girl while in actual she is an old woman.

Look for iman and a friendship based on iman. Look for the principles of a struggle that receives Allah’s blessing and in there, we will find friends who are loyal for Allah’s sake. If you have tasted the sweetness of iman and friendship in the name of iman, you will know that fake friendship tastes so bitter and nauseating. Allah says (translated as): “Friends on that Day will be foes, one to another except the righteous ones.” (Surah al-Zukhruf: 67). Yes, just like they run away when the interest they are after is gone, in the Day of Resurrection they will become foes when they see the torment that the Lord set for them as a resultant of their sins in their friendship and alliance. Ah! Where can a true friend be found? Yes! Look for a principled struggle that is blessed by Allah and in that terrain you will find true friends.

10:49 AM
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