اچھی صحبت

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Musa (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "The likeness of a good companion and a bad companion is like that of the seller of musk and the one who blows the blacksmith's bellows. As for the seller of musk, either he will give you some musk as a gift, or you will buy it from him, or you will at least smell its pleasant fragrance. And as for the one who blows the bellows, either he will burn your clothes, or you will smell its foul odour."

Friendship, relationships and company have a great effect and considerable influence on a person's temperament and habits, and their effects fall upon the whole of society, which either keeps advancing toward progress and success or else falls two steps back, finding either peace and tranquillity or anxiety and unrest. In particular, the greatest cause of the corruption and ruin of children is bad company and bad companions. Especially if a child is simple and straightforward, then by sitting and mixing with filthy gatherings and people of bad character he is very quickly affected and absorbs into himself their filthy habits and bad morals.
Through its teachings Islam has focused the attention of parents and those who bring up children on keeping complete watch over their offspring, especially at the age when they become aware and reach maturity, so that they know with whom their children keep company, with whom they sit and rise, where they spend their mornings and evenings, and which places they frequent. Islam has likewise guided that good and pious companions be chosen for one's children, so that they may learn good morals and manners from them, and it has also warned that they be protected from filthy and ill-charactered companions, lest they too become misguided and ill-mannered like them.
{And on the day the wrongdoer will bite his hands and say, "Would that I had taken a path with the Messenger! Oh, woe to me! Would that I had not taken so-and-so as a friend. He led me astray from the reminder after it had come to me. And Satan is ever a betrayer of man in his time of need."} (Furqan 27-29)
In another hadith it is stated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "A person is upon the religion of his friend, so let each one of you look at whom he is befriending." (with reference to Tirmidhi)
If parents themselves are not acquainted with morals and character, how will they bring up their children on the right path?
It is in human nature to make someone one's guide and leader and, whether knowingly or unknowingly, to walk in his footsteps. Now if a person's guide and leader are singers and minstrel-type people, he will want to become just like them and, growing up in such circumstances, will become a cancer for society. But if people's guides and leaders are righteous people, then not only will their own morals be elevated, but the colour of goodness will be evident in their own temperament and in the temperament of those who associate with them.
Islam has given great importance to relationships. Through them you keep in contact with a few people, cast your influence upon them and also accept influence from them, and these people remain very close to your life for a long period. If the basis of these relationships is sincerity and doing things for Allah's sake, and these friendships have been formed with a good goal in view, then Allah grants them acceptance and puts blessing in them; otherwise He casts them back in the faces of these very people.
{On that day friends will be enemies of one another, except the God-fearing (who will remain friends of one another). O My servants, no fear shall be upon you this day, nor shall you grieve.} (Zukhruf 67-68)
The first condition of the best company is that it be free of ulterior motives and interests, that it be adopted purely for the sake of truth, and that it grow up under the shade of faith and excellence in conduct; this is the very meaning of loving for the sake of Allah.