PoriPurno News Desk | August 11, 2025
Friendship is one of the most influential relationships in a person’s life. A good friend can guide you towards righteousness, while a bad friend can lead you to destruction. This truth is beautifully illustrated in a moral story of a fox and a crocodile, which offers timeless lessons for all of us.
The Story of the Fox and the Crocodile
Once upon a time, by the edge of a jungle near a river, a fox met a crocodile. The crocodile was serious in nature, but over time, he became friends with the clever fox. Their bond grew stronger day by day.
One day, the fox said to the crocodile:
“Brother Crocodile, I have a request. My son is a little simple-minded. Could you teach him some knowledge so that he may grow up wise?”
The crocodile agreed happily, saying:
“Of course! Bring your child. I will teach him everything I know.”
The fox, trusting his friend, brought his son to the crocodile.
But the crocodile was deceitful and greedy. Instead of teaching the young fox, he devoured him.
When the fox later came to check on his son, the crocodile floated a skull in the water and said, “Your child is studying very hard, so he is now resting.” The fox felt suspicious but kept silent.
Day after day, the crocodile repeated similar excuses — showing bones and claiming that he was teaching “difficult lessons.”
One day, the fox caught sight of the crocodile playing with the bones of a young animal. Recognizing them as his son’s remains, the fox’s heart broke. But instead of crying, he calmly said:
“Brother Crocodile, you are not just a teacher; you are a master whose lessons go so deep that even the student himself becomes part of you!”
The fox left quietly, with sorrow in his heart but his head held high.
Moral of the Story: One must be extremely careful when choosing friends. Blind trust in the wrong person can lead to devastating consequences.
Islamic Teachings on Choosing Friends
Islam emphasizes the importance of surrounding oneself with righteous and truthful companions. A friend’s influence can determine one’s path in this life and the Hereafter.
Qur’anic Guidance
Allah ﷻ says:
وَيَوْمَ يَعَضُّ ٱلظَّالِمُ عَلَىٰ يَدَيْهِ يَقُولُ يَـٰلَيْتَنِى ٱتَّخَذْتُ مَعَ ٱلرَّسُولِ سَبِيلًا • يَـٰوَيْلَتَىٰ لَيْتَنِى لَمْ أَتَّخِذْ فُلَانًا خَلِيلًا
“And [beware of] the Day when the wrongdoer will bite on his hands [in regret] and say, ‘Oh, I wish I had taken with the Messenger a way! Woe to me! I wish I had not taken that one as a friend.’”
(Sūrat al-Furqān 25:27-28)
This verse warns that a bad friend can lead to regret on the Day of Judgment.
Hadith on Friendship
The Prophet ﷺ said:
ٱلرَّجُلُ عَلَىٰ دِينِ خَلِيلِهِ، فَلْيَنظُرْ أَحَدُكُمْ مَنْ يُخَالِلُ
“A man follows the religion of his close friend, so let each of you look at whom he takes as a close friend.”
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd, 4833 — Ḥasan)
This means we should choose companions who encourage us in good deeds and obedience to Allah.
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Practical Lessons for Today
- Do Not Trust Blindly – Just as the fox trusted the crocodile without confirming his sincerity, many people today trust others without knowing their true character.
- Choose Righteous Companions – A good friend will protect your dignity, guide you towards good, and stand by you in hardships.
- Beware of Sweet Words – Some people may speak kindly but have harmful intentions, as the crocodile did.
- Value Your Faith Over Friendship – If a friend leads you away from Allah’s guidance, they are not truly your friend.
Conclusion
In the end, friendship is a blessing when it is based on sincerity, trust, and piety. But it can become a curse if it is rooted in deceit and selfishness. Islam calls us to seek friends who remind us of Allah, protect us from harm, and encourage us towards Paradise.
May Allah grant us righteous friends and protect us from those who would harm us in this life and the next. Āmīn.
Written By:
Mahbub Osmane — Islamic Thinker, Writer, and Founder of PoriPurno.com
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