There are two fine examples of a good friend and a bad friend in the Qur'an which goes unnoticed by many readers of the Qur'an. Qarun was from Bani Israel and not from the people of Pharaoh, yet he choose to desert his own people and opted to be doomed along with the Paraoh (Surah Qasas , ch 28, verse 76). Qarun hold a top position in the ministry of the Pharaoh, and naturally it was expected of him to be a source of benefit to his own people but rather he was among those who incited Pharoah against the Bani Israel, specially Moosa (a.s.). It was he who was among those who advised the Pharoah to kill the male children of Bani Israel and leave the females alive (Surah Ghafir ch 40, verse 24, 25) He was among those who incited Pharaoh to kill Moosa. Qarun and Haman were among those bad advisors who hastened Pharaoh to his own destruction. In the same Surah, the next ayat begins with a man from the people of Pharaoh, who too hold a good position in the court, but the Qur'an testifies that he was a believe (Surah Ghafir , ch 40, verse 28). He advised Pharaoh not to kill Moses and kept on arguing on his behalf. What kind of suggestions and advices your friends give you? Do they allure you to a new movie or introduce you to a Non-mahram or accompany you to a mall and insist that you buy branded mobiles, and dresses and shoes....? Or do they caution you from being immodest or discourage your from plunging into sexual adventures and being extravagant ? If you can differentiate between a good advice and a bad advice then you are a good advisor for your own self. The Qur'an highlights an essential quality of a good friend which can be used as a parameter in judging your friends. Open Surah Toubah ch 9, verse 71,and read it : The believing man and the believing women are wali of each others.......Wali is among the most misunderstood term by many Muslims. The Qur'an uses it for a 'protector' 'a well wisher' ,'a guardian 'and 'a friend'. The wise verse further elaborates "They command that which is good and forbid that which is bad" . Do your friends command you to do good and stop you from haram? Rather I would turn the question in your direction and ask you " do you yourself qualify this test with regards to your friends "? When was the last time that you noticed that your friend is addicted to TV serials or watching movies or chasing girls ? Do you possess enough courage like that believing man from the people of Pharaoh who dared to stand up for truth in spite of all odds against him? Bad companions will discourage you , they will try to pull you down and yet continue to be with you pretending to be your will wishers. You will find many around you. If you refer Surah Ahzab, Surah 33, verse 12- 13, you will find a mentioning of such people too. They have a disease in their hearts. So at a crucial junction when the Muslims were busy in encouraging each others, they tried to demoralize them “farje’oo” they passed a word, “ Return back to you homes “ trying to cause fissures among the ranks of the Muslims. Do your friends discourage you from going ahead with good things? Or do you discourage your friends from going ahead in good things? The Qur'an describe the plight of a person who will regret for being doomed due to wrong friends : Ah woe to me! I wish I had not taken so and so as my close friend.... Surah Furqan ch 25 verse 28