By Musawir Qureshi
Friends are among the greatest blessings bestowed by Allah. Every blessing carries sweetness and grace, and when it comes directly from Allah, it is truly a gift reserved for the fortunate. Some friends become so dear to the heart that words cannot fully describe them. Such sincere companions are rare, especially in today’s world, where friendships without personal interests have become increasingly uncommon.
I consider myself truly fortunate because Allah has blessed me with wonderful friends. I am proud of them, I love them dearly, and their friendship is one of the greatest treasures of my life. Whenever I feel sad or face difficulties, they stand beside me, encouraging me and giving me hope. Whether it is a moment of joy or sorrow, they are always there—even in the middle of the night. And when I fall into deep depression, they refuse to leave me alone; instead, they literally take me out somewhere until they see me smiling again.
We are like different parts of one body, sharing each other’s happiness and pain. If I honestly admit it, I am probably the weakest among them. Every one of my friends has hosted at least two gatherings, while I have not managed to arrange even one. One of our dearest friends, Khan Hameed, used to joke, “I may die, but Saeed will still not host a gathering.” (My friends call me Saeed because that is also my given name.) Sadly, he passed away before I could prove him wrong. Whenever I remember those words, they touch my heart deeply. Every time I intended to organize something, life brought unexpected obstacles.
Today, I want to write about these very friends who have made my life beautiful.
Life introduces us to many kinds of friends. Some are business associates whose friendship lasts only as long as business continues. Some are neighbors, others become friends through family ties, and some are not worthy of being called friends at all.
The purest and sweetest friendships are those formed during school days. At that age, there is no money, no personal gain, no politics, and no competition for status—only innocence, laughter, affection, and the mischief of childhood.
Our Government Primary School in Akhun Abad had more than seventy students, yet ten of us became such close friends that, even after nearly fifty years, our bond remains as strong as ever. The only difference is that we once carried school bags; today we carry eyeglasses, medicines, and sometimes even support each other by the arm.
One of our beloved friends was Khan Hameed, who is no longer with us. May Allah grant him the highest place in Paradise. He was the joy of our circle. Even today, whenever we gather, we feel his absence. Some friends leave this world, but they never leave the hearts of those who truly loved them.
«When you were born, you cried while others smiled.
Live in such a way that when you die, you smile while others weep.»
We all miss Khan Hameed dearly. But this world is incomplete and temporary; people come and people go. May Allah bless him with Jannat-ul-Firdous. Our gatherings have never felt the same since he left us.
Every two or three months, we travel together to beautiful places such as Naran, Kaghan, Kalam, or other scenic destinations. During these trips, we leave politics and life’s worries behind. We simply laugh, joke, relive childhood memories, and debate who among us was the naughtiest in school.
The leader of our group is Abdul Jalil Khan. He is not only generous and hospitable but also a man with a truly big heart. Honestly, if Jalil Haji were not among us, many of these trips would never happen, and our friendship would probably be limited to WhatsApp messages. He personally calls everyone and says, “Come on, old men, get out of the house!” If someone makes excuses, he gently persuades him to join. He never lets anyone stay behind.
Another dear friend is Shahid Khan, who lives in Qatar. Although he comes to Pakistan for only one month each year and remains extremely busy, he always finds time for us. That is the true sign of genuine friendship.
Our group also includes Gul Aziz, Javed Iqbal, Pervez Khan, Naeem, Shireen Zada, Sana Gul, Nawab Khan (whom we affectionately call “Ghareebo”), Fazal Raziq (Dadal), Amanullah Khan, and myself. Whenever we are all together, we feel like children once again.
Among us, Amanullah Khan is especially dear to everyone. We tease him more than anyone else. We joke with him so much that sometimes he starts scolding us—but even his scolding is full of affection, and we enjoy every moment of it. Honestly, if my friends teased me even half as much as they tease him, I might leave our WhatsApp group the very same day! But Amanullah Khan has an exceptionally large heart. He never takes anything personally and always responds with such wit that everyone bursts into laughter.
One of our most memorable moments was celebrating Amanullah Khan’s birthday. None of us had ever celebrated our own birthdays, but we celebrated his with great love. There was a cake, photographs, endless laughter, and unforgettable happiness. It remains one of our sweetest memories.
The truth is that as we grow older, our friendship grows even stronger. Once we used to hide each other’s school bags; now we hide each other’s mobile phones and eyeglasses. Once teachers scolded us; today we discuss diabetes, cholesterol, and medicines. Yet our laughter has never grown old.
Life has given us much, and it has also taken much away. But if there is one thing that still keeps our hearts young, it is the sincere friendship we built during our school days—a friendship free from selfishness and greed, built only on love, sincerity, laughter, and beautiful memories.
May Allah bless all my friends with good health, happiness, honor, prosperity, and long lives. May He grant our late friend Khan Hameed the highest place in Paradise, and may everyone be blessed with loyal and sincere friends like ours. Ameen.
In Sha Allah, in my next article, I will share the story of my high school friends as well.
