In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy
The Freeloader Friend: Befriends you as along as he benefits from you – either by way of wealth or status, or other than that. If this benefit ceases, he becomes an enemy of yours – considers you as someone unknown to him and vice versa. How numerous are those who defame [others when they spend in] charity! When given from it, they are pleased; but if not given they are angered. You see a bosom friend of yours- the most noble in your eyes and vice versa- asks you one days, saying, ‘’Give me your book’’, so, you say, ”I’m in need of it today and will give it to you tomorrow”, so, he shows you enmity. This is a freeloader friend.
The Friend of Pleasure Seeking: Befriends you not, except due [to the fact] that he enjoys sitting and speaking with you, and for the sake of chatting and socialising; however, neither does he benefit you nor does he benefit from you. Neither party benefit from each other, rather [you] only waste time. This is also a type of friend to beware of.
The Friend of Virtue: Leads you to what beautifies [your character etc], forbids you from what dishonours [or discredits] you, opens doors of good for you and guides you to it. And if you make a mistake, he informs you in a manner that does not blemish your honour.
Freeloader Friends are more numerous because the means of benefiting [others] are numerous; therefore, if you see that this man has not befriended you except due to receiving [worldly] benefit from you, then know that he is an enemy and not a friend.
A Friend of Pleasure Seeking busies and distracts you with enjoyment through chatting [or spending the night in chatting], time wasting in the amusement parks and other than that. As for this type of person, there is no good in him; rather the one who should firmly cling to is the Friend of Virtue -the one who leads you towards every virtuous deed and forbids you from every evil. [End of Quote]
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[Source: Sharh Hilyati Taalibil Ilm’ pages 159-160’ by Shaikh Uthaymeen [rahimahullaah]. Slightly paraphrased]
[Source: Sharh Hilyati Taalibil Ilm’ pages 159-160’ by Shaikh Uthaymeen [rahimahullaah]. Slightly paraphrased]
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