True Friendship

Friendship is a five-letter word, yet it contains countless secrets that are revealed only to those who practice true friendship. True friendship is considered a pure relationship—one that can be higher than relationships like brother and sister, parents and children. When the feeling of sincere friendship exists in the heart, even the most difficult tasks become easy.

This relationship has no place for greed, jealousy, hatred, deception, or evil. Because of true friendship, destinations become easier to reach, and strangers turn into one’s own. The story I am about to tell is completely true.

I and my very dear friend, Zaman Ali, lived in the same neighborhood. Our houses were close to each other. Zaman Ali’s father was a government officer and was counted among honest officials. Zaman Ali was the youngest among five siblings and was very dear to his parents and siblings.

Zaman Ali and I passed matriculation from the same school and later took admission to the same college. Our clothes, school bags, and college bags were often identical. Even our favorite flowers and food choices were the same. During school days, we used to ride bicycles of the same color, and in college, we traveled on the same bus.

The boys at school and college looked at our friendship with admiration. During breaks, we usually brought food from home. Sometimes Zaman Ali brought food from his house, and sometimes I did. We would sit together under an old tree in the college garden and eat. That tree was very special to us because we often sat there during free periods to study.

Zaman Ali was a cheerful person. He joked with everyone and treated people with kindness. He loved the poor neighbors and secretly helped respectable but needy families. He always showed sympathy and sincerity toward them.

Along with studies, Zaman Ali was very interested in sports. Horse riding, archery, swimming, judo, and karate were his favorite sports, and he had great skill in all of them. Wherever he competed, he usually won first prize. He had collected many awards over time.

Zaman Ali especially loved swimming. Sometimes he went dangerously deep into the water. I often stopped him from doing so, but he would laugh it off and say,

“Everyone has a fixed day of death. The night that is destined for the grave will come. Don’t worry about me, my friend.”

One day, Zaman Ali suddenly came to my house. After greeting my family, he came to my room and handed me an envelope, asking me to read it. Inside was an interview call letter from the Pakistan Air Force. I congratulated him and said it was wonderful news.

He replied,

“Muazzam, I will give the interview only if you go with me.”

I agreed, and the next day we went to the Air Force office together. Many candidates were there. Zaman Ali’s turn was fifteenth. He went inside for the interview and returned after some time with the news of his success. I was extremely happy for him.

After some time, Zaman Ali received his training letter from the Air Force. Before leaving, he came to meet me and said,

“Muazzam, promise me that you will write to me every day.”

I promised him and asked him to promise the same. After that, he hugged me, said goodbye to me and his family, and left for training.

Our exchange of letters continued for nearly two years. We faithfully replied to each other’s letters. Then one day, tragic news arrived—Zaman Ali’s aircraft crashed during training, and he was martyred.

This news deeply shocked his family and me. My childhood friend, my true friend, was separated from me forever. I have not been able to forget this sorrow to this day. He was right—death comes on its destined night.

Even today, I feel his presence with me, as if he is still alive with his sincere friendship. Sometimes, I go and sit under that same tree in the college where we used to eat and study together. Remembering his true friendship brings comfort to my heart.

O my friend, may Allah grant you the highest ranks. Ameen.