Faculty of Tarbiyah and Teacher Training – Recently, the term “sirkel” has been trending on social media timelines, from serious discussions to lighthearted jokes. But before diving deeper into the topic, let’s first understand what a “circles” is.
Definition of Circle: The word “sirkel” comes from the English word “circle,” which literally means a round shape. In this context, it refers to a circle of friends or social group.
Generally, our circle of friends starts out wide, especially when we’re still in school. Gradually, as we age, it tends to shrink. The people who remain in our circle are usually those who share common interests and can engage in meaningful conversations with us (Ratna Lathifah, 2020).
Impact on Our Lives Now that we understand what a circles is, let’s explore its impact on our lives.
Narrated by Abu Musa (may Allah be pleased with him), the Prophet (peace be upon him) said,
مَثَلُ الْجَلِيسِ الصَّالِحِ وَالْجَلِيسِ السَّوْءِ كَمَثَلِ صَاحِبِ الْمِسْكِ وَكِيرِ الْحَدَّادِ ، لاَ يَعْدَمُكَ مِنْ صَاحِبِ الْمِسْكِ إِمَّا تَشْتَرِيهِ أَوْ تَجِدُ رِيحَهُ ، وَكِيرُ الْحَدَّادِ يُحْرِقُ بَدَنَكَ أَوْ ثَوْبَكَ أَوْ تَجِدُ مِنْهُ رِيحًا خَبِيثَةً
“The example of a good companion and a bad companion is like that of the owner of musk and the blacksmith’s bellows. The owner of musk will either offer you some or you will smell its pleasant fragrance, while the bellows will either burn your clothes or you will smell its foul odor.” (Bukhari)
This hadith illustrates that both good and bad friends have an influence on our lives.
Everyone is influenced to some extent by their circles of friends because of frequent interactions and shared activities. Our social circle—whether in work, education, community, and so on—can impact us in terms of our perspectives, tastes, behavior, and lifestyle (Pratiwi, 2020).
This aligns with another hadith narrated by Abu Dawud,
From Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him), the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said,
الْمَرْءُ عَلَى دِينِ خَلِيلِهِ فَلْيَنْظُرْ أَحَدُكُمْ مَنْ يُخَالِلُ
“A person follows the religion of his close friend; therefore, you should be careful who you befriend.” (Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, and Ahmad. Al-Hafizh Abu Thahir declared this hadith sahih)
Choosing a Better Circle Fundamentally, forming friendships is good. Abruptly leaving or ending friendships can be challenging and potentially harmful, leading to enmity.
Instead of cutting ties with your current friends, consider bringing better, more righteous people into your circle.
One way to include good people in your circle is by attending gatherings of knowledge.
Gatherings of Knowledge These gatherings are places where people come together with the same purpose: to seek knowledge and improve themselves.
Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “If you pass by the gardens of Paradise, then stop and partake.” The companions asked, “What are the gardens of Paradise?” He replied, “The circles of remembrance (Halaqah).” (Tirmidhi)
By attending and participating in these gatherings, you can meet and befriend good people who will remind you when you make mistakes—people who won’t justify your wrongdoings but will help you become better. This is especially important in times when many people disregard the halal and haram in their daily interactions.
Additionally, you can invite your friends to join these gatherings so that more good people can be included in your circle. As an Arabic proverb says,
الصَّاحِبُ سَاحِبٌ
“A friend pulls (influences).”
Source:
- https://pesantrenalirsyad.org/sirkel-pertemanan-seorang-muslim/
- https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/silhouette-group-people-have-fun-top-mountain-near-tent-sunset_10001634.htm#fromView=search&page=1&position=1&uuid=0f9cb48f-2bc2-40fa-8257-ae66f0ab2c28
