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Our family are the people we do not choose as we are born in to them.
Friends are people we choose to allow in to our lives.
Friendship is the relationship we establish with those people.
Since we choose our friends, we will be held accountable for the friends we pick.


"And (remember) the day when the unjust one shall bite his hands saying: O! Would that I had taken a way with the Messenger! O woe is me! Would that I had not taken such a one for a friend! Certainly he led me astray from the reminder after it had come to me;" (Surah Al-Furqan, 25:27-29)

“Friends on that Day will be enemies one to another, except al-Muttaqoon (i.e. those who have Taqwah).” Qur’an 43:67

Since we associate with these people by choice, they are the single greatest factor in our personal, physical, emotional, psychological and even our financial development so choose wisely.
“The example 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. So as for the seller of musk then either he will grant you some, or you buy some from him, or at least you enjoy a pleasant smell from him. As for the one who blows the blacksmith’s bellows then either he will burn your clothes or you will get an offensive smell from him.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

People we associate with but not necessarily know well are not friends, they can be called acquaintances.
These can include neighbors, colleagues, schoolmates etc
Friends are those people we actively choose to seek the company of, be around and emulate
We should make this distinction as we must give dawah to our acquaintances.

Some characteristics of good friends are
They are truthful and trustworthy people.
They love each other and respect each other.
They exchange mature and good ideas with one another.
They stop each other from doing bad things.
They support one another in time of need.
They encourage good habits and discourage bad habits.

Characteristics of bad friends include
They are careless and callous toward their family.
They backbite.
The engage in vain and idle talk.
They expect support but do not provide it.
They encourage bad habits and discourage good habits.

“Mix with the noble people, you become one of them; and keep away from evil people to protect yourself from their evils.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Some Guidelines to Selecting Good Friends
Attend the masjid and other places where good people are present and avoid places such as bars, hookah lounges, clubs etc.
Try to give advice to your existing friends (no one is perfect) about their bad habits and perhaps they will change their ways.
If they don’t, you are obligated to no longer be friends with them.

Keep away from friendships with the opposite gender (there is no such thing)
Make friends who have similar interests and aspirations as you but also look for friends who have higher goals and aspirations than you, select friends that you admire
"And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression." (Surah Al-Maeda, 5:2)

Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “A man is upon the religion of his best friend, so let one of you look at whom he befriends.”

Source: Sunan Abu Dawud 4833

Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to An-Nawawi and Al-Albani