Managing Friends

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Introduction



Today's post is about managing friends. Most of my friends respond is: "What!!!". Yes they are. The idea of this post is when I got some trouble in managing my friends. First I don't think about it, but as life goes on, I'm starting to learn more and more about responsibility. Now for you, who think that managing friends is important, let me show you the right path.

How to Manage Friends



1. Keep smiling to them

Oh yes, that really work. It can make you friend comfort being with you. If you hang out with them, one of a hundred way to make them comfort is smile, and its easiest either. So keep smiling. But there is one problem: How when your friend is far from you (Long distance friendship)? Keep reading...

2. Ask their e-mail address or phone number

This can fix the problem. At least you communicate with your friend. It will be useless when you jut ask for their e-mail address or phone number but you don't send anything or call them. That is exactly one of a thousand reason why you got to pray (Shalat), you got to pray because if you don't communicate (in this case pray) with Allah, then you're not His servant, just like, when you don't communicate with your friends then you're not their friend. Think about it.

3. Manage your time

This is the most important among all of these guide. Managing time could manage everything. If you want to manage your friends, manage your time, so you'll never miss your appointment with them. Believe it. So Manage, when you should learn, hang out, watch T.V, etc...

4. Always try to help

This is very important. When you help someone, their respect to you will be more and more. Now, what is the use of respect in friendship? Let me tell you:

When someone respect you, he will keep your secret, never talk bad about you and believe whatever you talk.

Friend should be someone who can keep your secret, right? But before you want respect from others, respect others.

5. Never talk bad to them neither hear gossips about them

There is one good story about this. I'm sure after you read this story, you'll understand this part.


Long time ago in ancient Greece, there was a man named Socrates who was highly knowledgeable and an esteemed philosopher. He was approached by a fellow one day. That person told Socrates that he has some information to tell him about his friend. Before he could even start talking about his friend, Socrates told him to take a test known as the Triple Filter Test.

The first test was the filter of truth. Socrates asked him if the information he had was the truth. The person said that he had just heard it on the way and was not sure if it was the absolute truth. The second filter was that of Goodness. He asked if the information was regarding anything good about his friend. The man said it was actually the opposite. The third filter was that of Usefulness. Socrates asked if the information was useful to him in any way. The man replied in the negative.

Socrates then replied that when the information regarding a friend is not true, good or useful, then why it should be conveyed at all. The moral of the story is that

you may always participate in loose gossip, but when it comes to your friends it is just not worth it.

You know your friends better than others. So you must avoid talking behind the back of your dearest friends. It only leads to strained relations and shows that you are not reliable or trustworthy as a friend. Think about it.

Before I end this post, I want to wish "A Happy Birthday" to my best friend: Muhammad Nur Hakim. May peace always be upon our prophet, Muhammad, his family, friends, and all who follow his path, until the judgment day. Wallahu A'alam.