Brotherhood and Companionship

What Should I Do With Friends Who Swear and Backbite?


Answered by Ustadha Raidah Shah Idil
Question: Asalamu’alaykum Wa rahmatullahi Wa barakatu
What should I do with friends who swear and backbite?
Answer: Assalamualaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,
I pray this finds you well.

Good or bad influence

The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “A person is on the religion of his close friend, so let him carefully examine who he befriends.” [Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud]
If you feel your friends would listen to your suggestion, then it would be better for you to advise them in private. If you feel that they would be resistant and perhaps even get angry at you, then it would be better to reduce your interaction with them.
Friends rub off on each other, for better or for worse.
If you fear that prolonged interaction with your friends would cause you to also engage in gossiping and/or swearing, then it would be best for you to keep company with people of better character and behaviour.
The ruling on swearing
Is it impermissible to tell inappropriate jokes?
Smoking marijuana and the importance of keeping good company
Raidah Shah Idil
Checked & Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani.