Friendship
Friendship is defined as the human relationship that connects two or more individuals, based on mutual respect, affection, honesty, and trust. It often encompasses shared interests, activities, and behaviors among those involved. Friendship is categorized as a positive relationship and has been described beautifully throughout various human experiences.
Thoughts on Friendship
Friendship is a treasure that only those with supportive companions can truly appreciate in life. Some profound expressions of friendship include:
- Friendship doesn’t fade away like the sun sets; it doesn’t melt away like snow; it only dies when love itself has perished.
- Friendship is like an umbrella; the harder the rain, the more we need it.
- Friendship is an ocean; we sail its boat amidst its waves.
- Friendship is a land sown with love and watered with affection.
- Friendship is a garden where the flowers are fraternity and the nectar is cooperation.
- Friendship is a tree with roots of loyalty, branches of camaraderie, and fruits of connection.
- Friendship embodies love and faith.
- Friendship is a dream and a being that resides in the heart.
- True friendship resembles the bond between the eye and the hand; when one is hurt, the other sheds tears, and when the eye weeps, the hand wipes away those tears.
- Friendship is not merely about spending the most time together; it is about keeping promises regardless of distances.
- True friendship is like parallel lines; they never meet unless interests arise, at which point they intersect and lose their parallelism.
Reflections on Friendship
First Reflection:
Friendship can be described as a realm of love, brotherhood, and sophistication, representing the highest form of human connection. It springs from pure feelings without any conditions or ulterior motives. I have witnessed this with my closest friend, who stands by me during my weakest moments, covers for my absence, and encourages me to do good. Despite many friends around me, I see the best in her; she knows what disturbs me and avoids it while knowing what delights me and embraces it.
Second Reflection:
How magnificent is friendship! It connects us with extraordinary individuals whose spirits penetrate our depths, enriching us with their honesty. Together, we create wonderful moments that become cherished memories. We traverse paths filled with immense joy and see hope reflected in their eyes. Their presence elevates our experiences, and we continuously pray for them and keep them in our thoughts, feeling proud of their companionship.
Third Reflection:
Friendship is a stance that engraves its letters on stone, a testament to our vibrant emotions. So, dear friend, let us navigate the sea of loyalty, filled with the beauty of our shared memories and the moments we spend together. Let us soar high and declare: We are together until the end; what harms you, harms me. I promise I will never abandon you, and nothing shall separate us but death.
Fourth Reflection:
Friendship is that enigma without a clear answer. In essence, it is about finding another person willing to share everything with you, even their soul, and being trustworthy enough to safeguard that soul, with even greater confidence than in oneself.
Poems on Friendship
Poetry underscores the significance of friendship in a person’s life, as it offers support in tough times and companionship in moments of relief. It emphasizes the importance of ethical behavior and strong moral roots in selecting a friend to avoid betrayal and treachery. The focus on character and noble lineage is a hallmark of Arabic poetry, which advocates for choosing friends wisely. A poet reminds us:
- Bashar ibn Burd once stated:
If you are critical of your friend in every matter,
You will never find one who is free of faults.
- Al-Mutanabbi remarked on the direst of places where one cannot find a friend:
The worst of lands is where no friend dwells,
And the worst gain for a person is what tarnishes the honor.
Poems about Choosing Friends
- Abu al-Fath al-Busti advises selecting friends from noble lineages:
If you choose a person, let them be
Of noble lineage and esteemed blood.
For just as vile men are like worthless plants,
They bear no fruit nor serve for firewood.
- He also suggests:
I advise you not to associate with anyone but the virtuous,
Who embodies the qualities of dignity and grace.
Do not rely on anyone less than the noble, for finding one good soul
Is worth more than a thousand average companions.
- A fellow poet emphasized:
And I would not abandon a brother, no matter his disheveled state,
For any man may appear rough, yet be refined.
Poems on Strengthening Bonds between Friends
- The poet Abu Firas al-Hamdani views a friend’s shortcomings as opportunities to test and strengthen this relationship through forgiveness and compassion, stating:
Since my existence, I have only been a servant to my friends;
Never have I been the one to hold their shortcomings against them.
When my friend errs, I embrace that error,
To highlight my own forgiveness and kindness.
If my friend does not frequently offend,
Then where is the place for my generosity and pardon?
He harms me, yet I continually extend my hand,
For there is nothing better than what I can share beside him.
- The ancient poet Adi ibn Zayd advised:
If you find yourself among a people, then choose to associate with their best,
And avoid the worst, lest you fall into misfortune.
Beautiful Words about Friends
Friends can be described in the following expressions:
- True friends are hard to find, hard to leave, and impossible to forget.
- A real friend is the one who walks towards you when the rest of the world is walking away.
- A genuine friend is the one who accepts you for who you are when you are with them as if you were alone.
- A true friend is one who accepts your apologies, forgives your mistakes, and fills in for you when you cannot.
- When you pass away with five friends, you have lived a remarkable life.
- Everyone hears what you say; friends listen to what you whisper; best friends listen to what you do not say.
- A friend is someone who is familiar with the song of your heart and can sing it back to you when you forget the lyrics.
- When the past hurts and the future appears daunting, look beside you, and your loyal friend will be there to support you.
- True friends are like stars; you may not always see them, but you know they are there.
- Most people come and go in your life, but true friends have a special place in your heart.
- You may be just one person in the world, but to someone, you might be their entire world.
- Wealth is not measured by money but by the friends you have. You will surely rejoice in meeting them and see how rich you have become through their companionship.
- A true friend is one who thinks highly of you, and when you err, they find reasons to excuse your behavior.
- A genuine friend is someone who cares for you in terms of your possessions, family, children, and honor.
Messages to a Friend
Messages can express what is in your heart and how you feel about your friends. Here are some examples:
- How long will we remain friends? Want to know? As long as the stars shine, as long as the water flows, as long as I live, we will be friends.
- You and I are like a mulberry tree; I am the golden branch, and you are the ruby branch.
- If you ever feel the need to cry, call me. I won’t promise to make you laugh, but I am ready to cry with you.
- We gain and lose a lot every day, but rest assured, you will never lose me. I will always be by your side as a friend.
- Do you remember the first day we met? The first greeting we exchanged? The day we became friends? I remember, and I will always remember; from that day, I knew I cared about you.
- When you drown, I will be there to uplift you; when you tire, I will be there to support you. I will be your friend no matter what.
- It is beautiful to have a heart that you own, but it’s even more beautiful to have a friend who owns your heart.
- I won’t promise to be your friend forever because I may not live that long, but let me be your friend as long as I breathe.
- I may not find drawings to send you, but what I will always provide is my love and caring.
- If you are going to live a hundred years, I hope to live a hundred years minus one day, so I don’t have to live without you.
- If days do not bring us together, memories will. If the eye cannot see you, the heart will never forget you.
Video on the Impact of Friendship on Health
To learn more about the topic of friendship, watch the video.