Choosing The One

 “A man is upon the religion of his best friend, so let one of you look at whom he befriends.”

- Prophet Mohammed (s.a.w)

Source: Sunan Abu Dawud #4833

"Peer pressure" - as we call it today, is a major factor that decides the way you behave, especially in your adolescent years. It effects your mental health and the way you behave in a social setting and in your personal life. It's amazing how we have psychologists addressing this issue in today's time and Islam has already addressed it about 1400 years ago. The company you keep, the people you hang out with, involuntarily have a strong impact on you. If 4 out of 5 friends of yours, use filthy language, there's 99% chances that you are going to adapt the same. And it's very common in today's time and world, to the point that it is considered "cool". You aren't "cool" if you don't use swear words. You aren't "cool" if you don't roast people with your overly witty sarcasm on a daily basis. We live in a bizarre world now, where decency is boring and undesirable, where swag overshadows class and where nothing really makes sense because we have lost our sense of judgement of what's right and what's not. Where it's "cool" to have a boyfriend/girlfriend at 16 because all your friends do, but astagfirullah if you get married young. But who is to be blamed? We have made this acceptable and it is upon us to stop it. You have to surround yourself with better people. You have choose your friends wisely. Because if 4 out of 5 friends of yours, answer the call of prayer, there's 99% chance you'll do the same, if not willingly then at least out of embarrassment. But let me tell you this, peer pressure is a very real issue and before you know it, the mannerisms of the people you surround yourself with, seeps into you, soon becoming your identity. So choose people you want to be like, people that'll make you a better human and not rob off the humanity left in you.