Breaking Promises Against Spiritual Ethics - God Hates Those Who Do Not Keep Their Word

 

By Arman Neyazi, New Age Islam

12 August 2021

Allah The Creator Has Created His People With All The Divine Ethics Of Spiritualism And Keeping One’s Words Is One Of The Most Prominent Among Them

Main Points:

1.       Do not let your words go empty.

2.       Promising just to earn a momentary pleasure or a small gesture of goodwill is not worth getting the Creator’s wrath in the life hereafter.

3.       Going against the spiritual essence of our being is going against the tide of divine life.

4.       The human being needs to keep its promises for God’s rewards.

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Do not let your words go empty. Promise only that is within your reach. There is a possibility of losing your worth even in the eyes of your family members, wife and kids if you regularly promise never to fulfil. Being a man of words doesn’t require any additional qualification except that you know your limits. Promising something to someone just to earn a momentary pleasure or a small gesture of goodwill is not worth getting a bad name for the entire life and the Creator’s wrath in the life hereafter. Once you promised and could not fulfil, it is forgotten and forgiven but if you think you are successfully befooling someone you are at the wrong end. Remember you can befool someone sometimes but you cannot befool everyone every time. Be logical, will you forget and forgive someone who never keeps his words to you? If you cannot, how can others?

Breaking Promises: Against the Spiritual Ethics

It is against the essence of our divine being that we break our promises without any valid reason. Allah the Creator has created His people with all the divine ethics of spiritualism. Keeping one’s words is one of the most prominent among them. Therefore, going against the spiritual essence of our being is going against the tide of divine life. Allah the Most Gracious has commanded human beings to fulfil the promises that we make, from time to time, to our Creator otherwise one is going to face His wrath, if not sincerely asked to be forgiven. Allah the Most Gracious says in the Holy Quran:

 “And be true to every promise, for verily you will be called to account for every promise which you have made.” (17:34)

 “And fulfil (every) covenant. Verily! The covenant will be questioned about” - (Al-Isra’ 17:34)

“…and fulfil the Covenant of Allah” - (Al-An ‘am 6:152)

“Yes, whoever fulfils his pledge and fears Allah much; verily, then Allah loves those who are Al-Muttaqûn (the pious)” - (Aal ‘Imran 3:76)

“and fulfil (your obligations to) My Covenant (with you) so that I fulfil (My Obligations to) your covenant (with Me)”- (Al-Baqarah 2:40)

“O you who believe! Fulfil (your) obligations.” (Surah Maeda: 1)

“O you who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do? It is most hateful to Allah that you should say that which you do not do.” (As-Saff: 2-3)

It is mentioned in the above verse that one who does not keep his words will be harshly punished. Making false promises for the sake of worldly gains is not worth the displeasure of God. The human being does not mind the spiritual teachings that he keeps receiving all through his life from one source or the other. For a spiritual lesson, one does not necessarily need to have a spiritual Guru as the Allah-created animals, birds and the environment all keep singing the Creator’s spiritual lyrics of divinity. One just needs to be natural with himself to understand nature and how everything there in it are strictly following the promises they made to Allah the Most Merciful.

Divinity Lies in Every Religion

Be it polytheistic or monotheistic religions or beliefs, all are based on the divine virtues of spiritual ethics. Is there any religion that advocates the negative side of human life? None. We, therefore, cannot hide under the umbrella of any faith if we do not keep our promises made to our family or friends or the nation at large.

The Holy Quran is full of the promises Allah, the Almighty has made to His people. Consider what Allah the Most Gracious says in the following verses of the Holy Quran:

“Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly. (Quran 49:9)

“So remember Me, I will remember you.” - (Quran 2:152)

“Those who believe, and work righteousness, their Lord will guide them because of their faith, beneath them will flow rivers in gardens of bliss.”  - (Quran, 10:9)

“If you are grateful, I will surely increase you.” (Surah Ibrahim: 7)

This is the Paradise that We will give as inheritance to those of our servants who are God-conscious - (Quran19:63)

“To those who believe and do deeds of righteousness has Allah promised forgiveness and a great reward” - (Quran, 5:9)

“Whoever works righteousness, man or woman, and has Faith, verily, to him will We give a new Life, a life that is good and pure and We will bestow on such their reward according to the best of their actions.” - (Quran 16:97)

Following are the Prophetic traditions that highlight the importance of keeping a promise:

Abd-Allah ibn Amr (RA) said: The Messenger of Allah (Pbuh) said: “There are four characteristics, whoever has them all is a pure hypocrite: when he speaks he lies when he makes a promise he breaks it when he makes a covenant he betrays it, and when he disputes he resorts to obscene speech. Whoever has one of them has one of the characteristics of hypocrisy, until he gives it up.”  - (Al-Bukhari, 3178; Muslim, 58)

Ali ibn Abi Taalib (RA) narrated: The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: “Whoever breaks the covenant of a Muslim, upon him be the curse of Allah, the angels and all the people, and Allah will not accept any obligatory or Nafil act of worship from him.” - (Al-Bukhari, 1870; Muslim, 1370)

‘Abd-Allah ibn ‘Umar (RA) said that the Messenger of Allah (SAW said: “Allah will set up a banner for the betrayer on the Day of Resurrection, and it will be said: This is the betrayer of So and so.” - (Al-Bukhari, 6178; Muslim, 1735)

The Holy Bible also has various verses declaring the importance of keeping a promise and the promises made by God to His people. Consider the following Biblical verses:

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him who have been called according to his purpose” - (Romans 8:28)

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” - (Jeremiah 29:11)

…now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? - Luke 18:7

But I am afflicted and needy; Hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay - Psalm 70:5

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. - 2 Peter 3:9

O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and take action! For Your own sake, O my God, do not delay, because Your city and Your people are called by Your name.” - Daniel 9:19

Now as for the repeating of the dream to Pharaoh twice, it means that the matter is determined by God, and God will quickly bring it about. - Genesis 41:32

Ramayan – A Tale of Keeping Promise

Ramayana is based on the words given to Kaikeyi by her husband King Dashrath. We all know how many and how many sacrifices were given by Maryada Purushottam Ram, Sita, Laxman and King Dashrath in due course of keeping the promise made to Rani Kaikeyi.

The human being, therefore, needs to keep its promises for God’s rewards. In addition to the common people, the world is facing the wrath of politician’s breaking of promises. Politicians the world over have made it a habit to promise the sky in their manifestoes. These promises expectedly never see the light of the day. How much do their countrymen perish because of this is not the topic of discussion at the moment but what is needed is that they also, being our fellow beings, must be reminded of the virtues of keeping the promise and the rewards of it in life hereafter.

And Allah Knows the Best.

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Arman Neyazi is a columnist with NewAgeIslam.com.

URL:  https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-ideology/promise-spiritual-ethics-/d/125212

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