96 the limit of friendship that revolves around the two ends of its limits is that a person is upset by what upsets the other and is pleased by what pleases him. whoever is lower than this is not a friend and whoever carries this characteristic is a friend. a person may be a friend to someone who is not his friend but what enters into the category of addition is friendship and this requires an action from two actors as a person may love someone he hates and more than that in fathers with sons and in brothers with their brothers and between spouses and in someone whose love has become passion. not every friend is an advisor but every advisor is a friend in what he advises. the limit of advice is that a person is upset by what harms the other whether that other is upset or pleased and that he is pleased by what benefits him whether the other is upset or pleased. this is a condition of advice in addition to the conditions of friendship. the ultimate goal of friendship which is beyond which there is no increase is the one who shares with you himself and his wealth for no reason that necessitates that and prefers you over others. had i not seen muzafar and mubarak
٩٦ حد الصداقة الذي يدور على طرفي محدوده هو أن يكون المرء يسوءه ما ساء الآخر، ويسره ما سره. فما سفل عن هذا فليس صديقا ومن حمل هذه الصفة فهو صديق. وقد يكون المرء صديقا لمن ليس صديقه وإنما الذي يدخل في باب الاضافة، فهو المصادقة فهذا يقتضي فعلا من فاعلين إذ قد يحب الانسان من يبغضه، وأكثر من ذلك في الآباء مع الأبناء، وفي الاخوة مع اخوتهم، وبين الأزواج، وفيمن صارت محبته عشقا. وليس كل صديق ناصحا، لكن كل ناصح صديق فيما نصح فيه. و النصيحة هو أن يسوء المرء ما ضر الآخر ساء ذلك الآخر أم سره. وأن يسره ما نفعه سر الآخر أم ساءه. فهذا شرط في النصيحة زائد على شروط الصداقة. وأقصى غايات الصداقة التي لا مزيد عليها من شاركك بنفسه وماله لغير علة توجب ذلك، وآثرك على من سواك. ولولا أني شاهدت مظفرا ومباركا 