The phenomenon of toxic friendship among students indicates that close friendship does not always provide positive support, but may develop into a manipulative, dominant, and harmful relationship affecting academic and psychological growth. In the Qur’an, relational closeness can be examined through the concepts of bithānah and khalīl, which emphasize the importance of careful selectivity in choosing trusted friends and intimate companions. This study aims to analyze the meanings of bithānah and khalīl in M. Quraish Shihab’s Tafsir Al-Misbah and to examine their relevance to toxic friendship among students of Qur’anic Studies and Exegesis. This research employs a qualitative approach through library research and field study. The data were obtained from the Qur’an, Tafsir Al-Misbah, exegetical and social psychology literature, and student interviews. The findings show that bithānah refers to a trusted friend who has access to one’s personal sphere, while khalīl refers to an intimate companion who influences moral orientation. This study implies that Qur’anic-based selectivity in friendship is essential for building healthy, constructive, and spiritually grounded student relationships.
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