A true friend not just accepts who you are, but helps you to become who you should be

In 2021, I got admission to Government Degree College Sogam (Lolab) in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district. I arrived at the college campus with renewed enthusiasm and devotion. There were so many unfamiliar and strange faces. I had a few extremely unusual experiences on my first day of college. I located every student at the college, including seniors and recently admitted students. I went to the college’s roundabout. I visited the college library where I found many books and novels of my interest. It was a nice and comfortable feeling. I was quite happy to be a student at this new place. The teachers, I found, were more accessible and supportive. It was an extremely fortunate day for me since. I enjoy, and am happy, to be a part of GDC Sogam.
In the 21st century, one is extremely lucky and fortunate if one finds a true, sincere and loyal friend in life. Though in my life, as a student, I meet hundreds of people; not all can be called friends. They may be classmates, colleagues and peers; sharing some team responsibilities but they do not take the place of a true friend in my heart and mind. An exemplary friend is one who is not only a well-wisher but restrains us from evil and encourages the performance of good deeds. Therefore, a friend becomes an important asset for your success—worldly success and success in the hereafter.
In the history of Islam, we also find examples of exemplary and true friendship. One such example is of Prophet Muhammad(PBUH) when he received the first revelation (Wahi). He shared all his experiences with his family (his beloved wife) and his true and bosom friend Abu Bakr (RA)—both of them completely and sincerely supported him throughout his mission.
One of the essential qualities of a true friend is that he is always ready to lend a helping hand. That is why it is said that ‘a friend in need is a friend indeed’. Helping friends builds/ makes an unshakeable and unbreakable mutual bond. A true and sincere friend never forgets to help, support or guide you. In a true friendship, we share our ups and downs, joy and sorrow, and always try to persuade and motivate each other to achieve heights. Thus, there is a harmonious relationship between friends and it is obvious that when one is successful, so is the other. Rather, true friends are more than this. Because of this, Islam has stressed the value of friendship and listed characteristics such as goodness, reliability, and honesty as the true qualities of a true friend. Without these essential characteristics, a friend can turn into an enemy on the Day of Judgment. In the Quran (Surat al-Zukhruf, 43: 67) it is stated that “Close friends, that Day, will be enemies to each other, except for the righteous”.
One of the key components of a great friendship is loyalty. This implies acting as a shield when there is a threat. There is a proverb that describes the qualities of a friend. Without a confidante, without someone to share their joys and sorrows with, without someone to dance with when they get good news or to hug when they are overcome by bad news, humans cannot function. Friends are important at every stage of life. Toddlers need playmates, teenagers need peers at school, and adults need relationships.
Hard times can be made tolerable and easy by friends. They bring joy and pleasure into sad and dull moments. They provide interest in learning. They provide you with lifelong precious memories. Without friends, problems could seem quite difficult to overcome, but when you have friends by your side, you’ll typically discover that the way is clear and without obstructions. It is always advised to come out of your shell and approach others even when you are hesitant because friends do make your life better. Although it will initially seem awkward, the end result will make you much happier and healthier.
According to a recent study, friendships that start in college can survive a lifetime. Glenn Sparks, a communication specialist at Purdue University, compared developing friends to managing a bank account. Nowadays, it is challenging to maintain meaningful long-term connections since individuals move around a lot and there are numerous technology and media distractions.
There is a relationship that we decide upon. It is a friend of that relation. Friendships add beauty to our lives. When we are surrounded by wonderful companions, the adventures of life take on a beautiful quality. Each of us has a family that consists of our parents, grandparents, siblings, cousins, and other relatives. Our family provides us with a great deal of love, care, attention, and instruction. However, our family is not the only thing that dominates our entire existence. Every person has a different life goal. Our parents work, while some family members attend school and/or college. Each of us has a life apart from our families. When taken alone, no journey in life seems intriguing. Since this makes all activities in life more enjoyable, we frequently make friendships outside of our families.
A true friend points out our errors and offers numerous suggestions to help us. They inspire us to reach our full potential as well. We can discuss and share those ideas and difficulties with our friends much more easily which we can’t discuss with our parents. It is the beauty of this beautiful relationship.
Numerous instances of friendship stories from history are available to us, demonstrating the value of friends in daily life. As evidenced by the tales of Shri Krishna and Arjun, Ram and Sugreev, Krishna and Sudama, and Duryodhan and Karn, friends have always been those who stand by and support us. They aid us in overcoming adversity and moving forward in life.
Not only two people can be friends. Animals around us become our companions. So, we often have pets. Our lives are made less boring and stressful by our pets. We greatly like spending time with our pets. No friendship can remain for a long time without love and feelings. We need to develop life-long relationships throughout our lives. They assist us in understanding life. Everyone should have a loyal friend they can always rely on.

Saqib Sarwar Mir is BA 4th Semester Student at Government Degree College Sogam (Lolab), Kupwara. Feedback at [email protected]

Saqib Sarwar Mir