23. Good and Bad Company

عن أبي مُوسَى عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال إنما مَثَلُ الْجَلِيسِ الصَّالِحِ وَالْجَلِيسِ السَّوْءِ كَحَامِلِ الْمِسْكِ وَنَافِخِ الْكِيرِ فَحَامِلُ الْمِسْكِ إِمَّا أَنْ يُحْذِيَكَ وَإِمَّا أَنْ تَبْتَاعَ منه وَإِمَّا أَنْ تَجِدَ منه رِيحًا طَيِّبَةً وَنَافِخُ الْكِيرِ إِمَّا أَنْ يُحْرِقَ ثِيَابَكَ وَإِمَّا أَنْ تَجِدَ رِيحًا خَبِيثَةً

Abu Musa (rta) reported that the Prophet (sws) said: “The example of companionship of a good person and that of a bad one is that of the owner of musk and of the one who ignites a furnace. As for the owner of musk, he will either offer it you free of charge or you will buy it from him or you will smell its sweet odour. The one who ignites a furnace [on the other hand] will either burn your clothes or you shall have to smell its repulsive odour.”[1]

[1]. Ibid., vol. 4, 2026, (no. 2628).