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According to Wikipedia, a promise is a commitment by someone to do or not do something. We commit many things to many people, but do we think before we make a promise to someone? What if we can’t deliver on our word? Does it really matter? The world isn’t going to come to an end, is it? Well, actually no, but have we considered its effect?
There are different kinds of promises we may come across in this world from marriage vows to campaign promises, to “let’s do lunch”. Some are very solemn, and some are casual. But even casual promises not kept can have consequences. A promise represents honesty, trust and even love. So, when you break a promise, it can indicate that you do not care about these virtues. It implies an arrogance—that your needs are more important than anyone else’s.
When we make a promise or a commitment to someone, we need to do our very best to fulfill that promise, and remember to say, “God willing” (18:23-24).
In the light of Quran, fulfilling promises and covenants is an important commandment of God. A true believer will not think of breaking a promise. Fulfilling promises is one of the most important qualities of the righteous person.
[6:152] … You shall fulfill your covenant with GOD. These are His commandments to you, that you may take heed.
[17:34] … You shall fulfill your covenants, for a covenant is a great responsibility.
God has decreed great benefits for fulfilling promises in this world and in the hereafter.
Apart from creating a righteous and stable society, it elevates the follower to higher rank and brings him closer to God.
[3:76] Indeed, those who fulfill their obligations and lead a righteous life, GOD loves the righteous.
[3:77] As for those who trade away GOD’s covenant, and their obligations, for a cheap price, they receive no share in the Hereafter. GOD will not speak to them, nor look at them, on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He purify them. They have incurred a painful retribution.
God forbids Submitters to break their promises after they have confirmed them. God witnesses everything we say and will call us to account for our sins. God is so Clement that He has excused us for our unintentional promises. At the same time, He has explained in detail the procedure of atonement for breaking intentional promises.
[5:89] GOD does not hold you responsible for the mere utterance of oaths; He holds you responsible for your actual intentions. If you violate an oath, you shall atone by feeding ten poor people from the same food you offer to your own family, or clothing them, or by freeing a slave. If you cannot afford this, then you shall fast three days. This is the atonement for violating the oaths that you swore to keep. You shall fulfill your oaths. GOD thus explains His revelations to you, that you may be appreciative.
God is not pleased with those who are weak in fulfilling their promises. If we swear by God when taking an oath, we must not forget that we made God a guarantor for its fulfillment. It would be an extremely serious offense to break it.
[16:91] You shall fulfill your covenant with GOD when you make such a covenant. You shall not violate the oaths after swearing (by God) to carry them out, for you have made GOD a guarantor for you.
GOD knows everything you do.
[16:92] Do not be like the knitter who unravels her strong knitting into piles of flimsy yarn. This is your example if you abuse the oaths to take advantage of one another. Whether one group is larger than the other, GOD thus puts you to the test. He will surely show you on the Day of Resurrection everything you had disputed.
God's laws are practical and directly related to human behavior. Promises can give us the security that something is being fully guaranteed, just as we know that God never breaks His promise (3:9, 10:55, 30:6, 40:55). False promises put stress that you are guaranteeing something that cannot be verified at that given moment.
Let us today resolve that we will protect ourselves from false promises. May God help us in implementing His commands.
[66:2] GOD has decreed for you the laws dealing with your oaths. GOD is your Lord, and He is the Omniscient, Most Wise.
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[10:55] Absolutely, to GOD belongs everything in the heavens and the earth. Absolutely, GOD's promise is truth, but most of them do not know.
[17:64] You may entice them with your voice, and mobilize all your forces and all your men against them, and share in their money and children, and promise them. Anything the devil promises is no more than an illusion.