1– The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'Man follows the same creed as his friend, so consider carefully who it is you befriend.'[Amali al-Tusi, p. 518, no. 1135]
2– Imam Ali (a.s) said, 'One's friend is the closest of one's relations.'[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 674]
3– Imam Ali (a.s) said, 'He who lacks friends lacks a bare necessity.'[Ibid. no. 8760]
4– Imam Ali (a.s) said, 'Friends are a single soul divided between different bodies.'[Ibid. no. 2059]
Resemblance of Souls
5– Imam Ali (a.s) said, 'Souls resemble other souls, and those that resemble each other are in harmony, that is why people are attracted towards those they resemble.'[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 78, p. 92, no. 100]
6– Imam Ali (a.s) said, 'Every person is inclined towards one who is like him.'[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 6865]
People Whom One Should Befriend
7– The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'The most prosperous of people is he who mingles with honourable people.'[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 74, p. 185, no. 2]
8– Imam Ali (a.s) said, 'The most goodness and righteousness is to be found in the company of people of reason and understanding.'[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 3129]
9– Imam Ali (a.s) said, 'The one who invites you to the everlasting abode and helps you work towards it is a compassionate friend indeed.'[Ibid. no. 8775]
10– Imam al-Sadiq (a.s) said, 'Do not call a man your friend with the true stamp of friendship until you have tested him in three matters: anger him so that you may see whether his anger takes him away from right into wrong; test him with the dinar and the dirham [in money matters]; and travel with him.'[Amali al-Tusi, p. 646, no. 1339]
11– Imam al-Sadiq (a.s) said, 'Befriend one who gives you a good image, and do not befriend one who uses you to boost his own image.'[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 76, p. 267, no. 9]
People Whome One Must Not Befriend
12– The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'It is not good for you to befriend someone who does not have your best interests at heart as he does his own.'[al-Durra al-B?hira, p. 19]
13– Imam Ali (a.s) said, 'He who, in his friendship with you, is of no aid to you against your base self, his friendship is a curse on you, if only you knew.'[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 9041]
14– Imam Ali (a.s) said, 'Beware of befriending corrupt people, immoral people, and those who openly commit acts of disobedience to Allah.'[Ibid. no. 2601]
15– Imam Ali (a.s) said, 'The friend of an ignorant man is always wearied and miserable.'[Ibid. no. 5829]
16– Imam Ali (a.s) said, 'Beware of befriending immoral people, for verily only evil accompanies evil.'[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 74, p. 199, no. 36]
17– Imam Ali (a.s), in his will to his son al-Hasan (a.s), said, 'O my son, beware of befriending a stupid person, for although he will surely want to be of benefit to you, he will only bring you trouble.'[Ibid. p. 198, no. 35]
18– Imam Zayn al-Abidin (a.s), in his advice to his son al-Baqir (a.s), said, 'Beware of befriending one who has cut off relations with his kin, for verily I have seen him cursed in the Book of Allah, Mighty and Exalted, on three different occasions.'[Ibid. v. 2, p. 377, no. 7]
19– Imam al-Rida (a.s) said, 'The ignorant man's friend is always wearied.'[Ibid. v. 78, p. 352, no. 9]
That Which Corrupts a Friendship
20– Imam Ali (a.s) said, 'When a man puts his friend to shame, he has indeed parted from him.'[Ibid. v. 74, p. 165, no. 28]
21– Imam Ali (a.s) said, 'Jealousy of one's friend stems from weakness in one's love [for him].'[Nahj al-Balagha, Saying 218]
22– Imam Ali (a.s) said, 'Do not let bad opinion of people overcome you, for verily it will not leave any pardon between you and your friend.'[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 77, p. 207, no. 1]
23– Imam Ali (a.s) said, 'He who penetrates deeply into his friend's affairs, his love for him comes to an end.'[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 8582]
24– Imam Ali (a.s) said, 'He who argues with his brothers has few friends.'[Ibid. no. 8772]
25– Imam al-Sadiq (a.s) said, 'If you want the exclusive love of your brother, then do not ever make fun of him, nor quarrel with him, nor compete against him, nor be malicious to him.'[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 78, p. 291, no. 2]
26– Imam al-Hadi (a.s) said, 'The quarrel corrupts a long friendship and dissolves strong ties, because it only really consists of strife, and strife is the main cause of a break in friendship.'[A`alam al-Din, no. 311]
The Extent of One's Friendship
27– Imam Ali (a.s) said, 'A sincere friend is he who advises you with regard to your shortcomings, protects you in your absence, and prefers you over himself.'[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 1904]
28– Imam Ali (a.s) said, ''Shower all your love on your friend but do not shower all your trust on him.'[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 74, p. 165, no. 29]
29– Imam al-Sadiq (a.s) said, 'Friendship can only succeed when its conditions are fulfilled, and he who fulfils all or some of these conditions may be befriended, and if not, then do not attribute any of your friendship to him. The first of these conditions is that he should treat you in public the same as he treats you in private. Secondly, that your source of pride is a source of pride for him, and your source of shame is a source of shame for him too. Thirdly, that neither friendship [with others] nor wealth should render him envious of you. Fourthly, that he must not prevent you from obtaining that which you have the capacity for, and fifthly – and this sums up all the other qualities – that he must not give up on you in times of misfortune.'[Ibid. v. 78, p. 249, no. 90]
The Best Companions
30– The Prophet (SAWA) said, 'The best of companions is he who has little discord about him and much harmony.'[Tanbih al-Khawatir, v. 2, p. 123]
31– Imam Ali (a.s) said, 'One who aids you in your obedience [to Allah] is the best of companions.'[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 1142]
The Right of One's Companion
32– Imam Ali (a.s) said, 'Do not cut off a friend, even if he disbelieves.'[Ibid. no. 10196]
33– Imam Zayn al-Abidin (a.s) said, 'The right of your companion is that you share his company with bounty and fairness. You should honour him as he honours you, and should not let him be the first to extend his generosity. And if he is the first to do so, then repay him. Wish for him as he wishes for you, and restrain him from any act of disobedience that he might contemplate. Be a mercy for him, and not a chastisement.'[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 74, p. 7, no. 1]
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