Friendship is the most amazing and beautiful relation on this earth. We can find a second family in the form of our friend. Just as we rely on our family for every small thing we need, we can also rely on our friends. Our good friends never leave our side, even if the situation is terrible. When we are sad, it’s only they who make us feel alive and give comfort. They are our stress busters. It isn’t deeply known, what were the exact reasons to celebrate the friendship day? There are different ways of celebrating this day but the basic thought behind the day remains the same. It’s the day when we must acknowledge and cherish our friends’ rich contributions in our life, feel proud of their presence and show a love for them.
Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was sent with the mission to establish Islam, and he did not do it on his own. It’s Allah (SWT) who had chosen for him companions who accompanied Muhammad (SAW) and who carried the message until it was complete. Our Beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) always emphasized the need to surround with good companions. Islam suggests us that a good friend is one who will love and forgive us for the sake of Allah. He is the one who accepts our shortcomings, but at the same time try harder to correct our faults. The Hindu mythology is also filled with good stories of love, courage, strength, friendship and all other possible feelings. But when it comes to friendship, Krishna and Sudama’s story is inspiring and inspirational.
We all need good friends in life. A lack of close relations in life is as harmful to our health as any deadly disease. A vast number of studies suggest that social relationships are the reason women live longer than men. A lack of strong relationships increases our risk of premature death from all causes by 50%, according to one research study from Harvard University. That’s the same mortality risk as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Social relationships reduce the risk of disease by lowering blood pressure, cholesterol and heart rate. Indeed, people with good friends will find themselves less stressed and depressed.
Rightly said, that a friend in need is a friend indeed. God has gifted me many good friends across different religions and beyond borders. Some of my beloved friends have really passed all tests of a true friendship. I love and admire them a lot. But then there are friends who need us in their need, but once we are in need or trouble and need their help, they will turn their face away. There are also people who pretend to be caring but produce de-motivations and indulge in backbiting and they can’t be friends. We need to be very cautious in choosing the right companions.
Social networking is at its peak nowadays. There are both pros and cons of social media. Despite all the limitations of social media we should salute the virtual platform that has maintained our connectivity and given us back our lost friends. Digital media channels allow us to maintain relationships that would otherwise decay. Research suggests that if we don’t meet people at the requisite frequencies, we’ll drop down through the layers and become ‘somebody we once knew.’ Social media is slowing down the rate of decay.
A lot of debate is emerging on quality of friendship on social media. It is true we may find some friends on social media who will comment, like on our posts, show great concern but they will not even bother to wish when they are present physically. But I believe that online friendships can also be real. Just because we can’t hang out and enjoy outings with online friends doesn’t disqualify them as real friends. Some friends will grow over the years and some will be lost over time. It’s exactly the same as any other friendship on earth. It takes courage and efforts to connect with new friends online. Great friendship only happens when people are honest in their bonding. Online friendship too needs care, love and respect. We’ve never had a 24/7 availability of friends, thanks to the web. Social media makes it easy now to greet on a friend’s accomplishments or send them well-wishes when they have a tough time. Maintaining the connectivity and mutual love, care and respect are important to build lasting relationship with both online and offline friends.
The food for thought is that a true friend plays a significant role in our life. If you have got someone as a good friend then hold him/her for your life. You are truly a blessed person if you have at least one true friend in life. We must value our friends who take out time to be always with us and bear good and worse. True friends love us from the core of their heart. They have the magic to change our world. True friends are always special and so is their friendship. Wish you a very Happy Friendship Day……………..
(The author an Assistant Professor at ITM University Gwalior writes on socio-economic issues exclusively for “Kashmir Horizon”. His views are personal)
