Solitude Is Better Than an Evil Companion

126 - ʿAbd Allāh narrated to us, Ziyād ibn Ayyūb narrated to us, Saʿīd ibn ʿĀmir narrated to us, from Ṣāliḥ ibn Rustam, from Ḥumayd ibn Hilāl, from al-Aḥnaf ibn Qays, he said: I sat with Abū Dharr while he was glorifying Allah, and he turned to me and said: "Utter good and you will be filled with good; is that not better?" I said: "Indeed, by Allah, may Allah set your affairs right." Then he returned to his glorification of Allah. He said: "And silence is better than uttering evil; is that not so?" I said: "Indeed." Then he said: "And a righteous companion is better than solitude; is that not so?" I said: "Indeed." He said: "And solitude is better than an evil companion; is that not so?" I said: "Indeed." (1)