Surah Al-Furqaan (25) — Ayah 28

(Ayah 28) {يٰوَيْلَتٰى لَيْتَنِيْ لَمْ اَتَّخِذْ … : ’’ يٰوَيْلَتٰى ‘‘} is actually {’’يَا وَيْلَتِيْ‘‘}, in which the word {’’وَيْلَةٌ‘‘} is annexed to the first person singular pronoun, which has been replaced by alif. The meaning is: my destruction, my ruin. That is, the disbeliever will call upon his own destruction and will mention by name those people who led him astray, saying, "Alas! If only I had not taken so-and-so as an intimate friend." Instead of mentioning each one by name, Allah Almighty has used the word {’’ فُلَانًا ‘‘} for every person's intimate friend. The mention of this regret of the disbelievers is also seen in Surah Al-Baqarah (167) and Surah Al-Ahzab (66 to 68). From this, it is understood that a person should carefully consider the choice of friends. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: [ اَلرَّجُلُ عَلٰی دِيْنِ خَلِيْلِهِ فَلْيَنْظُرْ أَحَدُكُمْ مَنْ يُّخَالِلُ ] [ أبوداوٗد، الأدب، باب من یؤمر أن یجالس : ۴۸۳۳، عن أبي ھریرۃ رضی اللہ عنہ و حسنہ الألباني ] "A person is upon the religion of his friend, so each of you should look at whom he takes as an intimate friend." And he, peace and blessings be upon him, said: [ مَثَلُ الْجَلِيْسِ الصَّالِحِ وَالسَّوْءِ كَحَامِلِ الْمِسْكِ وَ نَافِخِ الْكِيْرِ، فَحَامِلُ الْمِسْكِ إِمَّا أَنْ يُّحْذِيَكَ وَ إِمَّا أَنْ تَبْتَاعَ مِنْهُ وَ إِمَّا أَنْ تَجِدَ مِنْهُ رِيْحًا طَيِّبَةً، وَ نَافِخُ الْكِيْرِ إِمَّا أَنْ يُحْرِقَ ثِيَابَكَ وَ إِمَّا أَنْ تَجِدَ رِيْحًا خَبِيْثَةً ] [ بخاري، الذبائح و الصید، باب المسک : ۵۵۳۴، عن أبي موسٰی رضی اللہ عنہ ] "The example of a good and bad companion is like that of the one who carries musk and the one who blows the bellows; the musk carrier will either give you some, or you will buy from him, or you will enjoy a pleasant fragrance from him, and the bellows blower will either burn your clothes or you will get a foul smell from him."