Friends and friendship – here’s how to have closer relations. 10 ways

10 WAYS TO EXPERIENCE A MORE FRIENDLY LIFE

1. UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF FRIENDSHIP – understand this core value and central core of existence. 

Our life is our fortune and our friends are our fortune.  Thus if we lose our friends it is unfortunate. Hazrat Ali R.A. is reputed to have said: “Unfortunate is he who cannot gain a few sincere friends during his life and more unfortunately is the one has gained them and then lost them (through his deeds).”

2. WORK OUT WHO YOUR TRUE FRIENDS ARE
It is often difficult to work out who are our true friends. Sometimes a person who loses his temper with you may be the truest of friends and may have your best intentions at heart.  Although sadly the delivery of the message was inappropriate.

3. NO TRUE FRIEND IS EVER LOST
Sadly, it is only after we have lost a friend that we realize that they had our best interests at heart and were true friends. Once we realize this – make contact and tell  your friend this. If they are true friends they will appreciate the gesture and resume the friendship.

4.  IMPROVE YOUR POWERS OF DISCERNMENT
When thinking of true care and true feelings – I always think of Shakespeare’s King Lear. King Lear did not recognize his true friend because she did not clothe her words with flattery. He failed to recognize the insincere flattery. Discernment is your ability to recognize sincere-ness (genuineness) from insincerity.  Sadly so many humans get it wrong! Again once you realize you are wrong – make amends and get back on track.

5. IN-BUILT FRIENDS
Family are your first friends and for those with big families are a community. In England, adult relations between family is usually based on friendship - we will only keep regular family contact as adults if we are friends or if we have a parent who makes an effort to keep all together. In Asia we talk more about family ties and family honour and religion teaches us to treat people as well and as closely as brothers. Thus close family relations is the closest form of friendship.

6. FRIENDLY BROTHERHOOD
Religion teaches the brotherhood of man – a friendly loving relationship between others even though we don’t have blood ties. Thus it should be our aim and purpose in life to develop this level of being cordial.

7. UP YOUR VALUES
Values are the key to us and our relationships (which are forms of friendship). Develop good values and associate with those people. In friendship, you can either grow together or grow apart. Sharing a common purpose in life will increase the chance that you will grow together. Sharing a wholesome common purpose is consistent with religious principles be that Christian or Muslim.

8. FOLLOW THE CALL OF GOD
Allah gave us the perfect way to stay in friendly relations with others – it starts with Assalam o Alaikum and Allah gives us the greatest common purpose.

9. THE POWER OF ASSALAM O ALAIKUM
Assalam o Alaikum dear brothers and sisters today. Assalam o Alaikum is the perfect beginning and ending until next time – Assalam o Alaikum. Assalam o Alaikum gives us the greatest start and the greatest ending.

10. THE POWER OF GOOD DAY
Traditionally in English culture – we would say Good Day, which is also a blessing for others, and Good Bye - these are blessings of goodness wishing that God is with you and that only Good will happen. Let us live in holy values.

FRIENDLY RELATIONS 
Good Day can be a greeting and a farewell, just like Assalam o Alaikum. Thus if you are speaking in English a wonderful way to be in friendly relations, and add blessings to the world is to say Assalam o Alaikum Good Day and then end with Assalam o Alaikum, Good Day and blessings. If you know they are receptive – add God Bless or God Bless you. Let the beauty of friendship and holiness come from our mouths, words and thoughts.

Let the beauty of friendship and holiness
come from our mouths, words and thoughts.
Let's all be friends.