The Philosophical Concept of Friendship

Friendship is an important part of life, shaping how we connect with others. This idea has been around for centuries, and even Aristotle talked about it long ago. To truly understand friendship, we should look at how it has been viewed throughout history and compare it to what it means today.

Different time periods have had different ideas about friendship. Today, we usually define a friend as someone we share a close bond with, built on trust and kindness, without any romantic or family ties. (Yager, 2002) But Aristotle saw friendship in a much broader way. As Hardie explains, Aristotle believed that friendships could include many types of relationships, not just close personal ones. He considered bonds between spouses, parents and children, neighbors, business partners, political allies, teachers and students, and even teammates as friendships. (Hardie, 1968)

Looking at these different definitions, we can see that friendship doesn’t have just one meaning – it has always had multiple interpretations. This isn’t just a modern idea; even Aristotle, more than two thousand years ago, tried to classify friendships and identify what true friendship really is. He mainly distinguished between friendships based on personal gain and those based on virtue, believing that only the latter deserved to be called true friendship. In ancient Greece, business relationships weren’t considered real friendships but were seen as partnerships built for mutual success. The same could be said for political friendships, which were often more about power and influence than genuine connection. (Kraut, 1989)

When we examine these different perspectives, we realize that the word “friendship” is often used in ways that don’t match our modern idea of a true friend.

Friendship has three key qualities: recognizing the relationship, sharing mutual respect, and genuinely wanting the best for each other. However, not all connections between people should be mistaken for true friendship. Some relationships may seem similar but have different foundations and purposes.

Different religions view friendship in their own way, but the core idea remains the same. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all recognize friendship, but they prioritize it differently. In Christianity, friendship is seen as secondary to universal love (agape). In Judaism, family bonds are placed above friendships. In Islam, friendship is considered an important moral value, a force that shapes personal identity beyond material things. In Islamic teachings, being a friend is seen as an honorable status.

Islamic teachings divide people into three groups: strangers, acquaintances, and friends. The following advice, based on Islamic principles, helps to understand friendship more deeply.

When dealing with strangers, avoid interfering in their conversations or engaging in meaningless talk, especially if it involves harmful speech. Minimize interactions with such people, but if you do meet them, offer friendly advice to encourage better behavior.

With acquaintances, be careful how you treat them. Don’t look down on them, as some may be better than you in ways you don’t see. At the same time, don’t treat them with excessive admiration because of their wealth or status, as it can have a negative impact on you. Never use your faith to gain personal benefits from them, as this will only make them lose respect for you. If they are unkind to you, don’t respond with hostility. Stay humble and don’t be deceived by your own pride. If people speak negatively about you, don’t be surprised – it’s a part of life.

If you ask for help and they assist you, show gratitude and thank Allah. If they can’t fulfill your request, don’t hold a grudge. Accept their reasons without resentment. Avoid being overly critical of others’ mistakes. If you find generosity, kindness, and love among those you know, be thankful to God for bringing such people into your life.

Lewis suggests that if someone causes you harm, don’t just ignore it – try to stop them. Many people who hurt others don’t take responsibility for their actions, and even the smallest criticism can make them defensive. (Lewis, 1974) Some of these individuals may seem friendly on the surface, but deep down, their intentions are more like those of a predator. You shouldn’t trust the friendship of someone who hasn’t been tested by experience. Still, it’s important to keep a positive view of people unless they prove otherwise.

A true friend should have five key qualities: intelligence, strong morals, faith, honesty, and a lack of obsession with material pleasures. Avoid friendships with those who have poor character, as they are often controlled by anger and selfish desires.

Based on my own experiences, I want to share what friendship means to me. Through everything I’ve been through, I’ve come to see friendship as something deep, honest, and built on trust and sincerity. Most people seem to feel the same way. From my research and personal understanding, I believe a real friend is someone who enjoys doing good for you and knows that you would do the same for them.

Friendship is something that everyone needs, even those who claim they don’t. Whether it’s a child, an elderly person, a wealthy individual, or someone constantly busy with work, we all need friends. The list of people who rely on friendship is endless. True friendship is built on shared interests, mutual support, understanding, and, most importantly, trust. If there’s no real connection or reason to talk, the relationship eventually fades away.

A friend is one of the most important people in our lives. Sometimes, we just need someone to talk to for hours, someone we can trust with our problems and secrets. It’s difficult to go through tough times alone, especially when certain thoughts and feelings can only be shared with a truly close and trusted person. According to Islamic teachings, acquaintances or “just friends” are not the ones we turn to for deep conversations or advice. There is always that one special person – my best friend – who knows my secrets, understands my thoughts, and stands by me. What makes this friend different from others is not just trust, but the fact that we’ve been through difficult times together. This person has always been there, offering not just kind words but real support when I needed it most.

From what I’ve seen and experienced, I can say that friendship is not something you can win in a lottery or find randomly on the street. It is a deep and complex connection that takes time to build. True friendships don’t appear overnight. They require patience, effort, and trust – like building something brick by brick, step by step. And once you have it, you need to protect it, because real friendship is not easy to find again if lost.

I also believe that not everyone has the ability to be a true friend. Friendship is almost an art, something that requires sincerity and selflessness. People who are selfish, arrogant, or only interested in personal gain can never be real friends. They care only about themselves and see friendships as a way to benefit.

In the end, friendship is incredibly important to me. I am lucky to have two best friends whom I truly appreciate and respect. They are among the most valuable people in my life, and I never want to lose them.