Have you ever thought who are your real friends? Are they your school friends or family friends or maybe even your pen-pals? Your true friends are those who believe in God and will commemorate and praise God with you. These friends are always there for you and who will encourage you to remember God and to be a righteous person. In the Quran, God informs us:

[18:46 ] “You shall force yourself to be with those who
worship their Lord day and night, seeking Him
alone. Do not turn your eyes away from them,
seeking the vanities of this world. Nor shall you
obey one whose heart we rendered oblivious to
our message; one who pursues his own desires, and
whose priorities are confused.”

Your friends are those who will stand strong with you in the path of God. We live in a time when we are presented with so many temptations and the challenge of dealing with peer pressure from other friends. When you hear and see the majority of people encouraging you to do something that goes against what God has invited you to do in the Quran, your true friend will support you and help you in making the right decision.

God warns us in the Quran to choose our friends carefully. In verse 28 of chapter 3 we read:

“The believers never ally themselves with the disbelievers, instead of the believers.”

Of course, it’s perfectly fine to have other friends who have a different belief than you just as long as they do not criticize your belief or try to force you to do things that go against God’s teachings.

But keep in mind, if you know of someone in your school or community that worships God alone, you are better off spending your time with them. Together, you learn from each other, remember God more often, avoid temptations, and strive together to appreciate God’s blessings.