One Hundred And Fifty Lessons For Life
Lesson Twenty: The Worst Friends
Imam ‘Ali (a.s.) said:
"شَرُّ إخْوانِكَ مَنْ داهَنَكَ فى نَفْسِكَ وَ ساتَرَكَ عَيْبَك"
Translation
Your worst friends are those who flatter and talk with you superficially and conceal your faults.[^1]
Brief Description
Escaping the realities and concealing the truths neither solves any problem nor is it a service to anyone. Therefore, friends who refrain from constructive criticism and from urging corrective actions and, instead, hide their friend’s faults for his false satisfaction, or misrepresent it as a goodness, have failed to be faithful in friendship. They have also committed a great treachery that may cause serious damage to the prestige, reputation, honor and prosperity of their friend.
[^1]: Ghurar al-Hakam