Source: ‘Biography of Imaam Sufyaan
ath-Thawri'
Bismillaah
wa-Hamdulillaah was-salaatu was-salaamu 'alaa rasoolilaah
Imaam
Sufyaan Ath-Thawri (rahimahullaah), a true mountain of knowledge & the
leader of believers in Hadeeth said that one foolishly compromised one’s
religion when one kept too many friends. Having too many acquaintances diverts
one from one’s duty towards one’s Lord, for a person who has many friends is
always busy socializing with them and fulfilling their rights over him; so he
becomes preoccupied with people when he really should be preoccupied with his
religious duties. The ill-effects of being too gregarious can last well beyond
a social gathering.