BENEFIT 147: Being around the Kuffar is worse than sitting with innovators

Sheikh Yahya Al-Hajuri hafidahullah said: "This is the requirement of adhering to the straight path: opposing the people of Hellfire, refraining from associating with them and being influenced by them. [The Prophet ﷺ said] "The example of a good companion and a bad companion is like that of the seller of musk and the one who blows the blacksmith's bellows." This hadith is agreed upon. And there is no worse companion than a disbeliever. Associating with them is worse than sitting with an innovator who holds some innovations from among the Muslims. The Salaf said, "Do not sit with people of desires, as sitting with them will make one sick." If sitting with the people of desires from among the Muslims will make one sick, then sitting with the disbelievers will lead to death."