Promise
28 sayings
And there are those of them who made a covenant with Allah: If He gives us out of His grace we will certainly give alms and we will certainly be of the good. But when He gave them out of His grace, they become niggardly of it and they turned back and they withdrew. So He made hypocrisy to follow as a consequence into their hearts till the day when they shall meet Him because they failed to perform towards Allah what they had promised Him and because they told lies.
Greater Sins Vol 2, The Twenty-First Greater Sin ,page 91; Surah Tauba 9:75-77 link
and fulfill the promise; Surely (every) promise shall be questioned about.
Greater Sins Vol 2, The Twenty-First Greater Sin ,page 93; Surah Bani Israel 17:34 link
"...and those who fulfill their promise when they make a promise.
Greater Sins Vol 2, The Twenty-First Greater Sin ,page 93; Surah Baqarah 2:177 link
And those who are keepers of their trusts and their covenant.
Greater Sins Vol 2, The Twenty-First Greater Sin ,page 93; Surah Momin 23:8 link
To keep your word to your believing brother is wajib like a vow, even though there is no expiation for going against it.
Greater Sins Vol 2, The Twenty-First Greater Sin ,page 94 link
One who has belief in Allah and in last day (Qiyamat) must keep his word when he promises
Greater Sins Vol 2, The Twenty-First Greater Sin ,page 94; Usool-e-Kafi link
Those who are just in their dealing, those who do not lie and those who fulfill their promises are from those who have perfect morals. And it is haraam to criticise them behind their back. Their being just (Aadil) is obvious. To maintain brotherly relations with them is wajib.
Greater Sins Vol 2, The Twenty-First Greater Sin ,page 94; Usool-e-Kafi link
There are three obligations in fulfillment of which Allah does not give concession to any: To behave well with the parents, whether they are righteous or sinners; to fulfill ones promise; whether to a righteous person or a sinner; and to deliver a trust (to its owner) whether he is righteous or a sinner
Greater Sins Vol 2, The Twenty-First Greater Sin ,page 94,95; Shaykh Sadooq: Khisaal link
Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali [a] said
One must also fulfill that promise that he has made to his wife. For a Muslim is always careful of his promise except when it is for making a prohibited thing legal or prohibiting that which is permitted.
Greater Sins Vol 2, The Twenty-First Greater Sin ,page 95; Tahzeeb link
And mention Ismail in the Book, surely he was truthful in (his) promise, and he was an apostle, a prophet.
Greater Sins Vol 2, The Twenty-First Greater Sin ,page 97; Surah Marium 19:54 link
Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali [a] said
By Allah, Muawiya is not more cunning than I am but he deceives and commits evil deeds. Had I not been hateful of deceit I would have been the most cunning of all men. But (the fact is that) every deceit is a sin and every sin is disobedience (of Allah), and every deceitful person will have a banner by which he will be recognised on the Day of Judgment
Greater Sins Vol 2, The Twenty-First Greater Sin ,page 98; Nahjul Balagha Sermon 200 link
Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali [a] said
Surely fulfillment of pledge is the twin of truth. I do not know a better shield (against the assaults of sin) than it. One who realises the reality of return (to the next world) never betrays. We are in a period when most of the people regard betrayal as wisdom. In these days the ignorant call it excellence of cunning. What is the matter with them? Allah may destroy them. One who has been through thick and thin of life finds the excuses preventing him from orders and prohibitions of Allah, but he ignores them despite capability (to succumb to them and follows the command of Allah), while one who has no restraints of religion seizes the opportunity (and accepts the excuses for not following the commands of Allah).
Greater Sins Vol 2, The Twenty-First Greater Sin ,page 98; Nahjul Balagha Sermon 42 link
And let not those of you who possess grace and abundance swear against giving to the near of kin and the poor and those who have fled in Allah's way, and they should pardon and turn away. Do you not love that Allah should forgive you?
Greater Sins Vol 2, The Twenty-First Greater Sin ,page 100; Surah Nur 24:22 link
And those who break the covenant of Allah after its confirmation and cut asunder that which Allah has ordered to be joined and make mischief in the land; (as for) those, upon them shall be curse and they shall have the evil (issue) of the abode.
Greater Sins Vol 2, The Twenty-First Greater Sin ,page 85; Surah Ra'd 13:25 link
Yea, whoever fulfills his promise and guards (against evil) - then surely Allah loves those who guard (against evil).
Greater Sins Vol 2, The Twenty-First Greater Sin ,page 85; Surah Ale-Imraan 3:76-77 link
Surely the vilest of animals in Allah's sight are those who disbelieve, then they would not believe.
Greater Sins Vol 2, The Twenty-First Greater Sin ,page 85; Surah Anfal 8:55-56 link
and fulfill the promise, surely (every) promise shall be questioned about
Greater Sins Vol 2, The Twenty-First Greater Sin ,page 86; Surah Bani Israel 17:34 link
O you who believe! Fulfill the obligations
Greater Sins Vol 2, The Twenty-First Greater Sin ,page 86; Surah Maidah 5:1 link
"...and the performers of their promise when they make a promise..."
Greater Sins Vol 2, The Twenty-First Greater Sin ,page 86; Surah Baqarah 2:177 link
O you who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do?
Greater Sins Vol 2, The Twenty-First Greater Sin ,page 86; Surah Saff 61:2-3 link
A believer's promise to his believing brother is a vow that has no expiation (It cannot be broken). But one who goes back on his word declares his opposition and enmity to Allah, and invokes the anger of Allah.
Greater Sins Vol 2, The Twenty-First Greater Sin ,page 86; Wasaelush Shia link
Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali [a] said
Breaking a promise causes the anger of Allah
Greater Sins Vol 2, The Twenty-First Greater Sin ,page 86; Nahjul Balagha link
"...and be faithful to (your) covenant with Me, I will fulfill (My) covenant with you."
Greater Sins Vol 2, The Twenty-First Greater Sin ,page 87; Surah Baqarah 2:40 link
Breaking promises is not giving a promise with the sincere intention to keep it; it is to give a promise and intend in heart not to stand by it.
Nahj al Fasahah; Tradition No. 354; Page No. 55 link
Do not swear by God unnecessarily, being it true or false, and do not make God the means of your swearing, for He will neither be merciful nor attentive to the one who falsely swears by Him.
Nahj al Fasahah; Tradition No. 507; Page No. 73 link
Do not swear by God, for if one does so, God will surely belie him.
Nahj al Fasahah; Tradition No. 508; Page No. 73 link
A promise is a debt. Woe is him who breaks his promise! Woe is him who breaks his promise! Woe is him who breaks his promise!
Nahj al Fasahah; Tradition No. 119; Page No. 25 link
Imam Ja'far Sadiq (a.s.) narrates that Amirul Momineen (a.s.) said, "There is a punishment in Hell which horrifies everyone. Won't you ask about that calamity?" It was asked: "O Amirul Momineen (a.s.) what calamity is it?" Imam (a.s.) replied, "They include a sinful scholar, a hypocrite reciter of Quran, a corrupt minister, false scholars and promise-breakers. There is a city named Hasiniya in Hell and won't you inquire what is there in that city?" It was asked: "O Amirul Momineen (a.s.) what is there in it?" He replied, "It will contain the hands of those who break promises."
Iqbal al-A`amal, page 319 link
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