Keeping the Covenant
Keeping the covenant is a notable aspect of the Islamic education.
Islam has called to this quality. God praised Samuel the prophet by
saying:
AndmentionintheBookSamuel.Surely,hewastruthfulinhisprom-
ise, and he was an apostle, a prophet.
The pledge isa recorded document; hence, itmust be fulfilled. God
says:
Oyouwhobelieve!Whydoyousaythatwhich youdo notdo?Itis
most hateful to Allah that you should say thatwhich you do not do.
AndfulfillthecovenantofAllahwhenyouhavemadeacovenant,and
donotbreaktheoathsaftermakingthefast,andyouhaveindeedmade
Allah a surety foryou. And fulfill the promise. Surely, every promise
shall bequestioned about.
The Prophet (s) said, "The signs of the hypocrites are three, even if
they perform the prayers and fast and claim being Muslims. They lie
whentheyspeak, andbreach whentheypromiseandcheatwhenthey
are trusted."
As he was asked about the signs of the hypocrites, the Prophet (s)
answered, "They breach when they pledge."
The fulfillment of promisesis a socialnecessity upon which the life
course and system depend. Islam has confirmed the necessity of ful-
filling the promises and compelled Muslims with it even if the other
party wasanenemy. Inhis willto Malikal-Ashtar, Imam Alisays, "If
youtiewithyourenemyaknotordresshimyourcovenant,youshould
encompass this covenant with fulfillment and keepyour pact by hon-
esty.Makeyourselfanarmorofwhatyouhavegiven.Nothing-ofGod's
precepts- is more agreeable, despite people's discrepant caprices and
varyingopinions,thantheglorifyingofthe fulfillmentofpledges.This
commitsthepolytheists,notMuslims,amongthemduetothereregard-
ingtheconsequencesofbreachingasgreatwoes.Donotbreachbyyour
humility,infringeyourcovenant,orviolateyourenemies.Onlytheras-
calignorantdoventureGodafterHehadmadeHispledgeandrectitude
thesecuritythatshouldbepublicizedamongHisservantsbyHismercy,
and the shelter and vicinity to which the servants harbor and rest."
ThisisthepureIslamicattitudetopledgesandpromises.Ithasdecreed
obligatorilythefulfillingofthepledgeandpromiseeventothefoesand
the rivals of Islam.