It Is Better to Associate with Those Who Bring the Fear and the Mercy of Allaah to You

Hasan Basri rahimahullaah was asked, “O Abuu Sa‘eed! What should we do? We sit with people who bring fear to our hearts,¹ so much so, that our hearts would almost fly away in fright.” He answered them by saying, “By Allaah! It is better for you to associate with those who bring fear to you, so that you may gain safety,² than to associate with people who make you feel safe,³ for you might earn fear in this case.”⁴

1. From Allaah and the Hereafter, and from death and what comes afterwards.
2. in the Hereafter from Allaah’s torment and the afflictions of the grave and the Day of Resurrection, by performing righteous good deeds.
3. in this life from Allaah’s torment and His just plot against the disbelievers and the sinners.
4. in the Hereafter, upon returning to Allaah with a record full of sin and heedlessness.

[REF: Lahzaat Saakinah (Silent Moments)]