Look at who you accompany

 بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

A person can never be safe when he accompanies the innovators, or the deviants, or the callers of misguidance. He will – directly or indirectly – be affected by their misguidance. It is like accompanying a blacksmith at his shop. Even if you are safe from the sparks from the furnace, the smoke from the furnace and the unpleasant smell coming thereof and that of the blacksmith will definitely get to you.

Narrated Abu Moosaa رضي الله عنه: Allaah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “The example of a good companion (who sits with you) in comparison with a bad one, is like that of the musk seller and the blacksmith's bellows (or furnace); from the first you would either buy musk or enjoy its good smell while the bellows would either burn you or your clothes, or you get a bad nasty smell thereof.”

[Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim]

Shaikh Ibn Baaz رحمه الله said:

“In this Hadeeth, there is encouragement to sit in the company of the good and the righteous people; and there is warning against sitting in the company of the bad (people) and the callers of misguidance.”

[Ta`leeqaat of Shaikh Ibn Baaz on Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (2/207)]

Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله said:

“(The similitude of) the bad companion is like the one who blows in the bellows. He will either burn your clothes, because when the sparks fly it will burn your clothes; or you will smell from him an unpleasant smell. So beware of sitting in the company of the bad people, you will never be safe.”

[Sharh Saheeh Muslim by Shaikh Ibn al-Uthaymeen (7/471)]

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We find in the Qur’aan and the Ahaadeeth many more instructions to look at whom we are accompanying. As Allaah تعالى says:

{O you who believe! Be afraid of Allaah, and be with those who are true (in words and deeds)} [Surah al-Tawbah (9): 119]

And also:

{And (remember) the Day when the Dhaalim (wrong-doer) will bite at his hands, he will say: “Oh! Would that I had taken a path with the Messenger (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم)! Ah! Woe to me! Would that I had never taken so-and-so as a friend! He indeed led me astray from the Reminder (this Qur’aan) after it had come to me.} [Surah al-Furqaan (25): 27-29]

Narrated Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه: The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “A man follows the religion of his friend; so each one should consider whom he makes his friend.”

[Sunan Abu Dawood (4833) and Sunan al-Tirmidhee (2378) and graded as “Hasan” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

Narrated `Alee رضي الله عنه: We have nothing except the Book of Allaah and this written paper from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم (wherein is written): “Madeenah is a sanctuary, and whoever innovates in it an heresy, or gives shelter to such an innovator in it will incur the curse of Allaah, the angels, and all the people, none of his compulsory or optional good deeds of worship will be accepted.”

[Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim]

When Sufyaan al-Thawree رحمه الله entered al-Basrah, so he was looking into the affair of al-Rabee` bin Subaih and his status with the people. So he (Sufyaan) inquired: “What is his Madhhab?” They said: “He (al-Rabee`) has no Madhhab except the Sunnah.” He said: “Who are his friends?” They said: “The people of Qadr [the Qadariyyah, the evil sect which denies the belief in Qadr].” He said: “(Then) he is qadaree!”

[al-Ibaanah al-Kubraa of Ibn Battah (421/2/452)]