COMPANIONSHIP

The Good. The Bad. The Get Thee Behind Me.

As-salaamu 'alaykum warahmatuLlaahi wabarakaatuH.

Hi guysssssss! And welcome back to my YouTube channel. Been a minute. I hope you're all doing great.

You know I never come empty handed so, I bring goodies.

I saw a prompt recently, something along the lines of the lessons I have learnt in the past year. And it really made me think, because I'm a coconut head and I no dey quick learn lesson like that.

While I have learnt quite a few things, alhamduliLlaah, there's just one of them that I reaally want to talk about.

Companionship. Good companionship.

And why bad companionship should always be met with a “get thee behind me!”.

There are two stories that are deeply ingrained in my head on this subject matter and I am constantly reminded of them from time to time as I navigate my relationships and observe the different relationships around me.

First, the story of Abu Talib, the uncle of the Rasul (SAW) who raised him, protected him and protected his mission. A very interesting story, as it speaks for both sides of the subject matter.

On his deathbed, Abu Talib was still yet to accept Islaam. And the Rasul(SAW), anguished by this, sought to convince him one last time.

Abu Taalib’s companions at his deathbed were, obviously, his companions during his lifetime, some of the biggest polytheists of Makkah at the time, Abu Jahl Ibn Hisham and Abdullah Ibn Abi Umaiyyah.

As death neared, the Rasul(SAW) continuously urged his uncle to say the shahadah and each time it seemed as though he faltered, Abu Jahl and Abdullah bin Abi Umaiyyah said, “O Abu Talib! Are you going to denounce the religion of ‘Abdul Muttalib?”

Until Abu Talib said, as his last statement, that he was on the religion of Abdul Muttalib and refused to say the shahadah.

The Second story is the story of the young Jewish man who served the Rasul, as narrated by Al-Bukhari. The young man fell ill and it was a death sickness. The Rasul(SAW) visited him on his deathbed and by his side was his father. When the Rasul (SAW) encouraged him to say the shahadah, the young man looked to his father, as if for permission and his father encouraged him to obey the Rasul (SAW). So the young Jewish man said the shahadah on his deathbed and died a Muslim.

In the first story, Abu Taalib kept the company of polytheists in his lifetime and at the time of his death, those were the friends who stood by his deathbed. And their presence and whisperings by his deathbed prevented him from accepting Islam till his death.

On the other hand, Abu Taalib also had great company at his deathbed. He had the company of the Rasul(SAW), who constantly prayed for him and beseeched Allaah on his behalf. And because of that, “…he would be in the most shallow part of the Fire: and but for me(the Rasul, SAW), he would have been in the lowest part of Hell”. [Sahih Muslim 209]

In the second story, the young Jewish man had good company. So when the Rasul (SAW) invited him to goodness, his good company encouraged him to it. And so he accepted Islaam and earned Jannah on his deathbed. SubhaanaLlaah.

May Allaah grant us excellent companionship in this life and the hereafter and make us excellent companions to our companions too.

May Allaah grant us all husnul khaatima. Aameen.

So, to the most important lesson I have learnt so far, this year -

First on the list is definitely how important it is to have a community of good, solid people around you.

And to surround yourself with people who would do everything to enter the highest ranks of Jannah, and with ease too.

And to surround yourself with people who love you for the sake of Allaah and would do everything to drag you to Jannah with them.

Because to be loved for the sake of Allaah?

Oh, to be loved for the sake of Allaah.

But here's the thing as well:

To fit into a community of people who want Jannah at all costs, you must also want Jannah at all costs and you must also be willing to do whatever it takes to make it into Jannah with ease.

Otherwise?

They will stress you out.

They will start to do too much.

Their gatherings and conversations will start to bore you.

You will not be able to keep up.

And they will tire you out. Real fast.

And their love for you, no matter how strong it is, would not be able to carry you. Just like the Rasool (SAW)’s love for Abu Talib could not carry him even though he knew the truth, even though he low-key wanted Jannah too.

No be curse o, na the mindset.

Willing + Ready = Able, no matter how hard it is. Bi idhniLlaah.

So, ladies and mentlegen…with these few points of mine, I hope I have been able to remind you that Jannah is the goal and you will not get there by just wanting it low-key. You must want it with every fiber of your being and be willing and ready to do everything you can do to get it.

And more than anything else, it is harder to do it alone.

Like-minded friends and communities are the way to go.

And companions who try to get in your way of Jannah should always be met with a scream.

GET THEE BEHIND ME!

May Allaah help us all.

That's it for now. See y'all again whenever.

And if you're reading this immediately it is delivered, it'd be in that hour after ‘Asr, on Friday.

You know what time it is. Make Du'a folks. And remember me in your Du'a. Tenks.

Until laters,

Raali.💜