What is the Islamic etiquette of friendship?
The scholars taught that friends shape the afterlife of the one who keeps them. They laid down the qualities to seek in a companion — and the qualities that should send one running.
5 passages from 3 books in the library
The classical approach.
These passages are drawn from 3 books by Ibn Kathir and Ibn Battuta — part of the classical Sunni tradition that carries over a thousand years of reflection on the Qurʾān, the authentic Sunnah, and the consensus of the early community. Nothing below is a paraphrase. The words are the scholars' own, translated from the original Arabic manuscripts.
14th century · Bosra, Syria
Monumental history Al-Bidāyah wa al-Nihāyah, the world's most widely read Qurʾanic commentary, and the classical Stories of the Prophets.
More on Ibn Kathir →
· Provenance →
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"Ibn Hibban explained that a deficient companion refers to one whose condition is lacking who belittles what they have been given and seeks more"
14th century · Tangier, Morocco
The Riḥlah — a 30-year, 75,000-mile journey across three continents, and the most important travel account of the pre-modern world.
More on Ibn Battuta →
· Provenance →
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"But remembering a friend among the money changers, he turned to him, explained the situation, and received a loan to repay the merchant."
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"Consequently, Khalil dispatched a governor to replace him in Malik and ordered him to come forward with a small company of his allies."
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"My traveling companion was a fief, al-Din al-Turzi. The servants mounted some horses, and we covered the rest due to the cold."
14th century · Bosra, Syria
Monumental history Al-Bidāyah wa al-Nihāyah, the world's most widely read Qurʾanic commentary, and the classical Stories of the Prophets.
More on Ibn Kathir →
· Provenance →
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"I fear that there will touch you a punishment from the most merciful so you would be to Satan a companion his father replied"
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