Fulfilling Covenants and Pledges — The Foundation of Trust
fiqh
Level: basic
special
fqh-025
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ أَوۡفُواْ بِٱلۡعُقُودِ
— المائدة 1
Verse: "O you who believe, fulfill your contracts." (5:1)
"Al-uqud" (contracts) includes: Commercial contracts, covenants with Allah (worship and obedience), oaths and vows, political treaties.
Faithfulness is a condition of faith: "There is no faith for one without trustworthiness, and no religion for one without covenant-keeping." (Ahmad — Sahih)
Breaking a pledge is a major sin: "Three signs of a hypocrite: when he speaks he lies, when he promises he breaks it, when trusted he betrays." (Agreed Upon)
Wisdom: A society where covenants are kept is one where trust flourishes and dealings prosper.
Source: Al-Qurtubi (6/32); Ahmad (3/135) — Sahih; Sahih Al-Bukhari (33), Muslim (59)
Question: What is the relationship between covenant-keeping and faith in the Prophetic hadith?
Answer: "No religion for one without covenant-keeping" — faithfulness to pledges is a condition of religion and a pillar of trustworthiness, itself a condition of faith.