The Fulfillment of Promise is really important and I am sure we have a conscious in our home when we make a promise, we keep it! Is promises only to be at home, with you collogues, your business partner, or with your neighbor? No promises are not for just one specific group of people. The most important to remember is YOUR PROMISE TO ALLAH, we say the Shahada, but how many of us transgress the promise we make to Allah and His Beloved Messenger (saw), To those that are married, what happen to the vows of promise, to the husband who made the promise in the house of Allah at the time of Nikah, how well are you keeping that promise? To the wife, how are you fulfilling the promise you made? To the husbands I know that sometimes you have to go aboard for a better job option, are you fulfilling the promise and oaths you made to your wife on your departure? Or is the *single* life now better then your wife? Or is the *other lady* wanting you to herself so now you looking for excuses to end your marriage? (On a personal note, the promise that I took to my husband, I am with the help of Allah fulfilling the promise) Remember brothers and sisters that our promise and oaths are what we will be questioned about by Allah.
To those who make promises to spouses, family members, collogues, business partners and neighbors, keep them, if you cannot keep a promise then do not make one!! Because if you cannot keep one, resentment sets in, people will never ever be able to trust you again.
“May Allah give Me and You the ability to fulfill the promises and oaths that we take and to fulfill the rights that others have over us. Aameen Thuma Aameen”
Allah says:
“And fulfill (every) covenant. Verily! The covenant will be questioned about.”
(Surah Isrâ 17:34)
“And fulfill the Covenant of Allah (Bai`ah: pledge for Islam) when you have covenanted.”(Surah Nahl 16:91)
“O you who believe! Fulfill (your) obligations.” (Surah Maeda 5:1)
“O you who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do? Most hateful it is with Allah that you say that which you do not do.” (Surah Saff 61:2,3)
Abu Hurairah (ra) reported: Rasulullah (saw) said “Three are the signs of a hypocrite: When he speaks, he lies; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; and when he is trusted, he betrays his trust.” (Al-Bukhari)
Another narration adds the words: “Even if he observes Saum (fasts), performs Salaat (prayer) and claims to be a Muslim.”
Its repetition here is meant to stress the point that a hypocrite is recognized by breaking his promise.
Abdullah bin `Amr bin Al-`as (ra) reported: Rasulullah (saw) said: “Four are the qualities which, when found in a person, make him a sheer hypocrite, and one who possesses one of them, possesses one characteristic of hypocrisy until he abandons it. These are: When he is entrusted with something, he betrays trust; when he speaks, he lies; when he promises, he acts treacherously; and when he argues, he behaves in a very imprudent, insulting manner.” (Al-Bukhari)
a disagreement between heart and tongue, or word and deed, about the declaration of faith in Islam is defined as hypocrisy. In the lifetime of Rasulullah (saw) there existed a group of hypocrites whose traits of characters have been outlined in Ahadith. Humanly it is not possible to perceive malice hidden in one’s heart. Even Rasulullah (saw) hardly knew what lay in the hearts of people because, despite having the exalted status of Prophethood, he was fundamentally a human. Allah, however, had revealed hearts to him. But today, we have no error-free source to pick hypocrites from the ranks of believers. Quite naturally, we fall back on the Hadith which provides us definite symptoms of the character and manners of hypocrites so as to distinguish them from sincere Muslims. Ulama’ say that there are two aspects of hypocrisy, relating to faith and practice. In the 1st case, a hypocrite conceals his disbelief in his heart but verbally professes Islam. Anyone who belongs to this category of hypocrites will be, as stated in the Qur’an:
“In the lowest depths of the Fire.” ( Surah Nisa 4:145).
2nd case, a man does have faith in his heart but in practice he portrays the characteristics of a hypocrite, unfortunately a majority of today’s Muslims practically behave like hypocrites and possess their propensities. It is this hypocritical attitude and moral deficiencies of Muslims that have degraded them and made Islam unappealing. May Allah put Muslims on the right path!
Jabir (RA) reported: Rasulullah (saw) said to me, “When the revenues of Bahrain will arrive, I shall give you such and such and such.” He passed away before the revenues were received. When they arrive during the caliphate of Abu Bakr (ra), he ordered to be announced: “Anyone whom Messenger of Allah (saw) promised or owed anything, should come to him.” I went to him and said: “Messenger of Allah (saw) had said to me such and such. He took a double handful out of the money and gave it to me. I counted it and found that it was five hundred dirham. Then Abu Bakr (ra) said to me: “Take twice as much more of that amount.” (Al-Bukhari)
Rasulullah (saw) according to Al-Bukhari spread his both hands thrice in a gesture and indicated to Jabir (ra): “I will give you double handfuls of money thrice”. Abu Bakr (ra), however, fulfilled Rasulullah (saw) promise during his caliphate. This Hadith is suggestive of fulfillment of the deceased pledge by the ascendant, that is, his death will not invalidate it. Rather, the responsibility of fulfilling his pledge devolves upon his inheritors. Similarly, a new ruler is under obligation to carry out the commitment made by his predecessor on the government level.
To end of I would like to make a final point. Keeping one’s promise is an expression of truthfulness, which is itself a prerequisite for piety, a trait which Allah loves; what a great rank that is to be loved by Allah.
“It is not righteousness that you turn your faces towards East or West; but it is righteousness to believe in Allah and the Last Day, and the Angels, and the Book, and the Messengers; to spend of your substance, out of love for Him, for your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the ransom of slaves; to be steadfast in prayer, and practice regular charity; to fulfill the contracts which you have made; and to be firm and patient, in pain (or suffering) and adversity, and throughout all periods of panic. Such are the people of truth, the Allah-fearing.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:177)
“Those that keep their plighted faith and act aright,-verily Allah loves those who act aright.}* (Surah Imran 3:76)
“Keeping a promise, even if it seems simple, as the verse shows, is an adequate reason to gain the most bejeweled of all things; the love of Allah, Almighty.”
