The preacher of the Grand Mosque: Choosing good friends is a safeguard for young people

In his Friday sermon, the Imam and preacher of the Grand Mosque, Sheikh Dr. Osama bin Abdullah Khayyat, emphasized that caring for the youth and younger generations is the cornerstone of building strong and stable societies. He pointed out that safeguarding the nation's youth and guiding them properly is among the greatest contributions to preserving the nation's integrity and elevating its standing, enabling it to attain its esteemed position among nations and fulfill the purpose of this nation, which was brought forth for mankind.

The sermons delivered at the Grand Mosque in Mecca hold immense importance and wield widespread influence throughout the Muslim world. They serve as a guiding platform, reinforcing noble Islamic values ​​and addressing contemporary social and educational issues. In this context, Dr. Khayyat explained that nurturing young people is among the most powerful motivators for winning hearts and minds. He emphasized that this nurturing is not limited to material support alone, but must also encompass instilling sound Islamic beliefs, cultivating virtuous character, and instilling good habits , in addition to providing them with excellent companionship and interaction.

The impact of friendship on personality formation

In his discussion of social relationships, His Eminence addressed the topic of friendship and its profound impact on shaping an individual's character and behavior. He pointed out that a friend can have a significant influence on another, sometimes even surpassing the influence of family and educators. Therefore, it is extremely wise to exercise caution in this matter and to be deliberate in bestowing affection until one is certain of a friend's faith, character, and trustworthiness.

The preacher of the Grand Mosque cited the noble Prophetic guidance on this matter, recalling the Prophet's saying, peace and blessings be upon him: "A person is influenced by the religion of his close friend, so let each of you consider whom you befriend." He explained that this Prophetic guidance points to a confirmed psychological and social reality: that nature imitates nature, and a person quickly begins to resemble his companion in all his traits, whether consciously or unconsciously. This makes choosing a friend a crucial matter in a Muslim's life.

The difference between a good companion and a bad companion

Dr. Osama Khayyat elaborated on the comparison between two types of companions and their impact on the individual in this life and the hereafter:

• A good companion is one who guides his friend to virtue, encourages obedience, reminds him of God when he forgets, and supports him when he remembers. Such a companion brings happiness to his friend, improves his life through his company, and provides him with support in times of hardship.
• A bad companion is one who beautifies what is ugly, makes evil words and deeds seem appealing, and leads his friend into places of doubt and error. He is the companion who brings misery to his friend, causing him to taste regret at a time when regret is of no avail. As the Holy Quran informs us, this friendship, founded on sin, will turn into enmity on the Day of Resurrection.

His Eminence concluded the sermon by calling on parents, educators, and youth to choose sincere and faithful friends, and that friendship should be purely for the sake of God Almighty, far removed from fleeting worldly desires and interests, and that it should be nurtured in the realm of faith and piety, in order to ensure success and prosperity in this world and the hereafter, in accordance with the Almighty’s saying: “Friends on that Day will be enemies to one another, except for the righteous.”.