4 Types of People to Mix with in Ramadan

The third matter that helps with standing for the night prayer and hastening to the obedience [of Allah]; is refraining from a lot of mixing with people and wasting time with them. You must preserve your time, and too much mixing is harmful. Even if nothing comes out of it except the passing time, this is sufficient harm. You are responsible for preserving your time. 

1. Some people, mixing with them is like a disease,
2. others, mixing with them is like nutrition,
3. others, mixing with them is like medicine,
4. And yet others, mixing with them is like air.

Those who mixing with them is like a disease are not good companions; there is no goodness in them. Mixing with them is harmful for a person’s religion and worldly life.

Those who mixing with them is like nutrition, you only need them at certain times. You do not eat and eat all day. The most you prepare for yourself to eat is three meals a day; in the morning, midday, and in the evening before going to sleep. So you only mix with this type of person at specific times.

Mixing with some people is like medicine. You spend time with them when you want to have a good time within the confines of what is permissible. You will find that this person has good speech; he has poems, news, words of wisdom and parables that would make you feel good and enjoy the company - without falling into disobedience of Allah the Exalted. So you mix with this person for good company.

Some people companionship is like air, if you refrain from it you would perish. They are the people of righteousness, the people of worship and obedience. The people whom are described in the statement:

Do not befriend anyone except those whom when you see them, you are reminded of Allah, or those with whose words, you are guided to Allah.

Another said:

Do not befriend anyone except one whose condition reminds of Allah, or one whose speech guides you to Allah.

They are the most virtuous, so accompany them, and if you do, it is you who will be successful by the permission of Allah. And if you forsake them, you may weaken, and perhaps bad people and the Shaytan will get the better of you, and we ask Allah for safety.

If you fear this for yourself, then accompany them, because accompanying them is as necessary for you as is the air [you breath]. If you refrain from it, you would perish, you would not have any air, your righteous deeds would cease, which are the nourishment for your soul.

So not all people are to be mixed with, no! People are according to these groups.

So a person must take advantage of these days, know their value and preserve them.