The Covenant

The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘Muslims [make and] fulfil their promises according to what is permissible.

The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘Verily whoever is not true to an agreement, or breaks it, or promises beyond that which he is capable of, or omits something from it without good intention therein, then I will hold it against him on the Day of Resurrection.

The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘When they break a covenant, Allah allows their enemy to gain mastery over them.

The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘He who does not keep a promise has no religion.

Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Verily promises are chains on people s necks until the Day of Resurrection. So whoever fulfils them is delivered by Allah, and whoever breaks them is forsaken by Allah, and whoever takes them lightly will have to contend with the One Who has placed special emphasis on them and Who has enjoined upon His creation to fulfil them.

Imam Ali (AS), in a letter he wrote to al-Ashtar when he appointed him governor of Egypt, said, ‘Among all things made incumbent by Allah, there is nothing on which people are more strongly united, in spite of the difference of their opinions and the diversity of their views, than the respect for fulfilling promises.

Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Verily fulfilment of a promise is part of faith.

Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘He who does not observe his promises and his guarantee does not have conviction in Allah.

Imam al-Baqir (AS) said, ‘There are three things wherein Allah, Mighty and Exalted, has not granted anyone a concession … the fulfilment of one s promise, be it to the good person or the bad.

Imam al-Baqir (AS) with regards to Allah s verse “Do not be like her who would undo her yarn, breaking it up after [spinning it to] strength, by making your oaths a means of [mutual] deceit among yourselves …”[ Qur an 1692], said, ‘The one who undid her yarn was a woman from the tribe of Bani Taym b. Murrah, called Rabita (Rayta), daughter of Kaab b. Saad b. Taym b. Kaab b. Luaayya b. Ghalib. She was a stupid woman who would spin hair, and after she had spun it, she would undo it then start to spin it all over again. So Allah said, “Do not be like her who would undo her yarn …” Verily Allah, Blessed and most High, has commanded the fulfilment of the oath and has prohibited its breaking, and has made this a parable for them.

Imam al-Sadiq (AS), when asked about the verse “O you who have faith! Keep your agreements”, replied, ‘[It refers to] promises.