Why Some People Click with Some, and Not with Others
عَنْ أَبِى هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- قَالَ : الأَرْوَاحُ جُنُودٌ مُجَنَّدَةٌ فَمَا تَعَارَفَ مِنْهَا ائْتَلَفَ وَمَا تَنَاكَرَ مِنْهَا اخْتَلَفَ .
Abu Hurayrah (radi Allahu anhu) narrated the Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wa salam) said: Souls are troops collected together: Those who have similar qualities are inclined to each other, but those who have dissimilar qualities, will differ.”
Collected by Muslim (2031)
Brief commentary for this hadeeth:
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Imam Abee Hatim Muhammad ibn Hibban[1] said: After the Qadr of Allah, a person is inclined to someone or differs with them due to the similar qualities or unalike character. Whenever two souls share affinity there is harmony in their spirit. What’s more is every time two souls differ there is disunity among their person.
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Qatadah said about Allah’s speech, ” Except him on whom your Lord has bestowed His Mercy… (Hud:119). For Mercy and obedience. The people who obey Allah, their hearts and desires are united, even though they may reside in different areas. The people of disobedience hearts are not united, even though they may reside in the same location.
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Ibn Hibban said: This is the concrete evidence for knowing a person; based on who he interacts with. A person is looked upon from the one he socially interacts with. A person follows the religion of his companion, as birds of the same feather flock together. I have never seen anything more apparent than this, more than, whenever there is smoke there is a fire.
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The intelligent person avoids anything that arouses suspicion. Furthermore, he disassociates himself from anyone accused of (improper practices or beliefs). Reason being, a person is known by his companions. Whoever associates closely with someone is ascribed to that person. No man companions a person, unless he is similar to him in character.(Rawdatul ‘Uqala ) [2]
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This Hadith of the Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wa salam) sheds light on why sinners click with sinners, why hizbees group with each other so nicely, and why criminals get along with other criminals. There will always be a time when there will be someone we just won’t get on with, although they are Muslim. Additionally, it explains why the righteous people hang together, and why unrighteous people can’t relate to people of moral and good character. Allah says:
الْخَبِيثَاتُ لِلْخَبِيثِينَ وَالْخَبِيثُونَ لِلْخَبِيثَاتِ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ لِلطَّيِّبِينَ
وَالطَّيِّبُونَ لِلطَّيِّبَاتِ أُوْلَئِكَ مُبَرَّؤُونَ مِمَّا يَقُولُونَ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ
وَرِزْقٌ كَرِيمٌ
Bad statements are for bad people (or bad women for bad men) and bad people for bad statements (or bad men for bad women). Good statements are for good people (or good women for good men) and good people for good statements (or good men for good women), such (good people) are innocent of (each and every) bad statement which they say, for them is Forgiveness, and Rizqun Karim (generous provision i.e.Paradise).(An-Nur26)
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Ibn Taymeeyah said: This refers to good men being suitable for good women, and bad men are for bad women. Likewise the same applies to women in reference to their spouses and companions. (Majmu 32/145)
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Included in this verse isn’t just bad statements and good statements for such people, but rather, good actions for good people and bad actions for bad people. Conflicts and trials on Earth occur due to the mixture of these two catergories of people. On the Day of Judgment Allah will separate between them. (Refer to zadul ma’ad ibn by Ibn al Qayyim , the special traits of the good statement for Allah’s servants).
Translated and compiled by Abu Aaliyah Abdullah ibn Dwight Battle
Doha, Qatar © Jumada 2nd/ 13th , 1435H
[1]Abu Hatim Muhammad ibn Hibban (280-354H) was born in a place found today in Afghanistan. Some of his teachers were: Ibn Khuzaymah, Ibn Sa’d Ad-Darami, Ibn Junayd and others. Some of his students were: Al-Hakim , Ibn Manthu and others. He was a scholar of Hadith and authored books on Jarh wa Ta’dil. Some of his well known books are: Sahih Ibn Hibban, At-Thiqqat, and Al-Majruheen. At-Thahabi called him, ” An Allamah and Hafith and the Shaykh of Khurusan.”
[2] The Book Rawdatul ‘Uqala was written to incite people to, and intimidate them from certain character traits. Ibn Hibban said he found that it was something needed during his era. The book has his chains of narration along with his statements and commentary, quotes from the salaf, as well as poetry for each hadith.
Masha’Allaah