[QqJamxqP]

Brothers and sisters, I would like to hear your take on this.

We know that in Islam (and even in general), we are only as good as the company we keep. That being said, before I used to practice the deen, I had a bunch of friends, though 99% of them non-muslim.

After I started practicing the deen a few months ago (), I cut-down (basically stopped) hanging out with these friends. One of my best friends (or used to be best friend?) is an athtiest. Amazing guy as far as being kind-hearted and being an all-around "good guy" is concerned, however the only thing I don't like about him (and a huge thing, obviously) is the fact that he is (or thinks he is) an athtiest.

I have tried making dawah to him, but to no avail, his mind right now is filled up with other things. May Allah guide him to the straight path, ameen.

This guy and I used to hang out a lot. I guess the fact that I wasn't practicing before didn't spark much discussions about religion. He knew I was Muslim and I knew he was athiest and that was the extent of it. But now whenever we hang out, we get in to some sort of argument/discussion about the existence of God, our Prophet , etc, and though I try my best not to get heated about it (I haven't so far), but rather just speak softly and ask Allah to help me say the right thing, some of the things he says are still unacceptable to me (such as denying the existence of God and Prophets (A.S.), etc) and I would rather those type of things not enter my ears, especially from someone I have control over hanging out with or not.

So I have basically stopped hanging out with this guy and don't plan to either, unless it's an absolute necessity.

Same with majority of my other friends, I am no more to be found at any hang-outs/gatherings like I always used to be... because they involve free mixing of both genders as well as being in restaurants and other environments where alcohol is being served, music is being played, and other stuff that I don't want to be around.

So, basically, I have disappeared for most of my friends. They sometimes joke with me when I run into them once a while saying stuff like "you think you are too good for us", etc, and I tell them straight out that you will not find me at any gathering where people are drinking alcohol and/or at parties etc because it's against my beliefs. Now whether they understand or not is upto how deeply they want to think about it and if Allah swt has willed it for them to understand or not, but I tell them the truth nonetheless. I don't make excuses to not hang out, I tell them the real reason they're not seeing me anymore.

When they do see me, I, , try my best to set a good example as far as how a Muslim should behave so they can get a real impression of Islam and maybe do some thinking of their own.

I know the advice usually given is "make new friends at the Masjid". I am involved with my local Masjid but , the regular comers here are mostly elderly uncles who I am of course cool with but they're not exactly individuals I am going to get together with to 'hang out' outside of the Masjid.

I guess I am just looking for some type of reassurance. Am I doing the right thing here, by basically 'abandoning' my old friends?

Or should I hang out with them sometimes as long as I can control myself & not drink/intermingle with girls and stuff?