By Shaykh Syed Anisul Haque
14 November 2025

﷽ 

In the bustling city of Makkah, during the early days of Islam, there lived a man named ‘Uqbah ibn Abi Mu‘ayt. He was a respected figure among the Quraysh elite. On returning from one of his travels, he hosted a banquet and extended an invitation to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. 

But the Prophet ﷺ, always clear in his mission, replied, “I will not eat from your food until you testify that there is no god but Allah and that I am His Messenger.” Out of politeness or curiosity – or perhaps a spark of conviction – ‘Uqbah uttered the words of the shahadah.

But that moment of truth was short-lived.

When ‘Ubayy ibn Khalaf, a close friend of ‘Uqbah and a staunch opponent of the Prophet ﷺ, heard what happened, he was outraged. He accused ‘Uqbah of betraying the religion of their forefathers and demanded a demonstration of loyalty: “Prove yourself,” he challenged, “by spitting in the face of Muhammad.” 

Driven by the pressure to please his friend and fearing the loss of social standing, ‘Uqbah did the unthinkable – he spat in the noble face of the Prophet ﷺ. According to some early scholars, Allah caused that very spit to burn his cheek, leaving a mark until the day he died in humiliation at the Battle of Badr. His companion, ‘Ubayy, met a similar end at the Battle of Uhud.

In the aftermath of this incident, Allah revealed the following verse:

This verse paints a powerful image: a person in the Hereafter, biting his hands in anguish, not because he had lost wealth, fame and fortune, but over a single friendship that led him away from guidance.

‘Uqbah being led astray by his friend is a reminder for us all. Sometimes the friend leading you along the wrong path is person who tells you, “You can pray later,” or “Praying five times is too extreme,” or “It’s just one time.” A bad friend is one who gradually pulls you away from Allah, makes you feel embarrassed about your faith, and normalises sin until it no longer feels like a big deal.

The Prophet ﷺ gave us clear guidance:

A person is upon the religion of his close friend, so let each of you look at whom he takes as a friend.

We cannot afford to take this advice lightly. On the Day of Judgement, the same people who laughed with us, partied with us, or distracted us from our goals, will not stand beside us. They will not plead for our forgiveness. In fact, they may be the very reason we find ourselves standing on the wrong side of the scales.

The story of ‘Uqbah and ‘Ubayy is not unique. Even the Prophet’s beloved uncle, Abu Talib, who protected and supported him throughout his mission, failed to accept Islam in his final moments. As he lay on his deathbed, the Prophet ﷺ pleaded with him, “Say, ‘La ilaha illa Allah,’ a word by which I will intercede for you.” But Abu Talib’s peers, Abu Jahl and ‘Abdullah ibn Abi Umayyah, sat beside him, pressuring him: “Will you turn away from the religion of ‘Abdul Muttalib?” Torn between love for his nephew and the pressure of his friends, Abu Talib died upon the religion of his forefathers.

Allah then revealed:

This teaches us that even the most blessed company cannot save us if we surround ourselves with those who drag us down. Our environment has power. It shapes our decisions, our priorities, and ultimately, our fate.

So what makes a good friend?

A good friend reminds you of Allah when you forget. They encourage you to pray when you hesitate. They celebrate your obedience, not mock it. A good friend will correct you when you slip, defend your honour in your absence, and want Jannah for you as much as they want it for themselves.

In our times, we must be especially cautious. Companionship isn’t just about who we spend time with in person. It’s also who we follow online. Influencers, celebrities, and content creators all shape our worldview. Just like physical friends, digital companions can either inspire faith or feed doubt and discontent.

Recently, a teenager shared with me how he was tempted to leave Islam. The root? Endless hours on TikTok and Instagram. He saw curated lives, luxury, and fame, and asked, “Why does Allah give them everything and not me?” He wasn’t comparing reality. He was comparing his life to a highlight reel designed to manipulate emotions and erode gratitude.

That’s the trick of Shaytan. He doesn’t always come with clear disbelief. Sometimes, he comes through envy, self-doubt, or loneliness, all wrapped in the form of friendship.

So ask yourself: if you were hospitalised, who would visit you? If you died today, who would stand in the front row of your janazah? And even more critically, who among them would you want standing there?

Choose your companions wisely. Because the road to Jannah is not walked alone, but those beside you can either carry you forward or pull you back.

O Allah, grant us righteous companionship that helps us in obeying You, endears to us the meeting with You, reminds us of You when we forget, forgives us when we slip, and never let us have a companion who distances us from You.

Ameen.

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