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The Twenty-First Greater Sin: Non fulfilment of a Promise
promise [N] คำสัญญา, See also: คำมั่นสัญญา, คำปฏิญาณ, Syn. assurance, avowal, agreement, warrant
The twenty-first of the Greater sins is ‘Breaking of a promise.’ There are authentic traditions to this effect from Abdul Azīm where he quotes that Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.) has proved it to be a Greater sin with the help of the following verse of Holy Qur’an:
“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.”
(Surah Ra’d 13:25)
The Holy Qur’an denounces the breaking of promise in the following ayat too:
“Yea, whoever fulfills his promise and guards (against evil) - then surely Allah loves those who guard (against evil).
(As for) those who take a small price for the covenant of Allah and their own oaths - surely they shall have no portion in the hereafter, and Allah will not speak to them, nor will He look upon them on the Day of Resurrection nor will He purify them, and they shall have a painful chastisement.”
(Surah Ali-‘Imrān 3:76-77)
Amir ul-Mu’minīn ‘Ali (a.s.) advises Malik al-Ashtar regarding the honouring of promises:
“Breaking a promise causes the anger of Allah.”
(Nahjul Balagha)
‘Ali (a.s.) also quotes the same verse after this.
Hazrat Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s.) said:
“There are four types of sinners who are punished very soon:
a) The person who violates the pact that he has made with you, even though you have respected it.
b) One who inflicts harm upon you even though you caused him no harm.
c) One who has promised you something and you are faithful upon your agreement but he is unfaithful.
d) One who wants to severe relations even though the relative wishes to continue the relationship.”
(Khisāl)
Breaking of promise and hypocrisy
Breaking of a promise is a very serious sin. It is a sin that sows the seed of hypocrisy in the heart of the person who commits it. The person dies in a state of disbelief and is raised with the hypocrites on the Day of Judgment.
Hypocrites do not keep their words
It follows from this tradition, that a person who is unjust, a liar and one who does not keep his word, does not possess morals. He is not a just person (Ādil) but a transgressor (Fasiq) and it is not Wajib to fulfill the rights of brotherhood towards him.
Mutual covenants and agreements
The third type of promise is when people form actual covenants and agreements. The ayats and the traditions state that it is Wajib to fulfill this type of promise and it is Harām to go against them.
For example in Surah al-‘Isrā’:
“...and fulfill the promise; Surely (every) promise shall be questioned about.”
(Surah al-‘Isrā’, 17:34)
Similarly the Qur’an describes truthful and the pious people thus,
“...and those who fulfill their promise when they make a promise..”
(Surah al-Baqarah 2:177)
Also when describing those who shall be saved from Hell and earn Paradise, Allah (S.w.T.) says,
“And those who are keepers of their trusts and their covenant.”
(Surah Al-Mum’inūn, 23:8)
Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.) says,
“To keep your word to your believing brother is Wajib like a vow, even though there is no expiation for going against it.”
The Holy Prophet (S) said:
“One who has belief in Allah and in last day (Qiyāma) must keep his word when he promises.”
(Usūl al-Kāfi)
Thus keeping a promise is a fulfillment for the belief in Allah (S.w.T.) and the Day of Qiyāma. Similarly, the beginning verses of Surah as-Saff have also denounced the breaking of promise and clearly prove that non-fulfillment of a promise (of every type) is Harām.
