Rabiulawwal Reflections Day 5: Hadith on Old Friends

While reflecting on my birthday earlier this year, I had written:

“This morning I am saying thanks for my problems and challenges. I wouldn’t have grown the way I had grown if it weren’t for them. Because I did not have “𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦” “𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘺” problems, I also don’t have “𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦” “𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘺” friends mashaAllah.⁣
⁣⁣
If the only thing I got out of my challenges is that I’ve increased in gratitude for everything and everyone in my life, and I’ve managed to chip away, even a little, at any sense of entitlement I’ve had, then that’s so much more than I could have asked for.⁣
⁣
I am not entitled to my friends’ kindness and generosity, or my teachers’ prayers, or any of the blessings I have been enjoying and still get to enjoy. I pray to always remember that they are 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘭𝘭𝘭𝘭𝘭 gifts. All of them, no matter how it manifests itself.

Alhamdulillah ala kulli hal wa astaghfirullah min kulli zanb.”

If you’ve been following me in recent times, you’ll know I’ve been talking about the solidness of my good friends, and how they truly are the loves of my life. MashaAllah.

So it was really heartwarming that the part of the book I read today spoke about old friends. Here’s the beautiful hadith:

“Aisha RA said, “Never did I feel jealous of any woman as I was jealous of Khadijah RA. I used to hear him mention her, and he would slaughter a sheep and distribute its meat among her old friends. One day her sister sought permission to visit and the Prophet ﷺ was at ease with her (i.e. he was happy to see her). Then another woman entered, whereupon he became joyful and inquired about her well-being in the best of manners. After she left he ﷺ said, “She used to visit us when Khadijah RA was alive. Indeed, looking after old friends is a quality of faith.”

And in the footnote for ‘looking after’, it says “The word used by the Prophet ﷺ, ‘ahd, carries a variety of meanings. According to al-Hafiz al-Sakhawi, it means to tend to and care for something, or to uphold and maintain covenants and agreements made in the past. The meaning here, as reflected in the translation, is to continually look after the well-being of old friends.”

💚💚💚

Alhamdulillah for good friends and companions, they are rizq (divine provision). May Allah grant us good and sincere friends, help us to be one, and protect our friendships from shaytaan and our nafs, ameen!