The Qur’ān (16:91-96) says: “Fulfil your covenant with Allah whenever you make a pledge. Do not break your oaths after you have confirmed them, and have made Allah your surety. Allah certainly knows all that you do. Be not like her who untwists the yarn which she has firmly spun, using your oaths as a means to deceive one another, simply because a particular group may be more powerful than another. By this, Allah puts you to the test. On the Day of Resurrection, He will make clear to you all that on which you now differ. Had Allah so willed, He would have surely made you all one single community. But He lets go astray him that wills [to go astray] and guides aright him that wills [to be guided]. You shall certainly be called to account for all that you do. Do not use your oaths as a means to deceive one another, lest your foot should slip after it has been firm, and lest you should be made to suffer the evil [consequences] of your having debarred others from the path of Allah, with tremendous suffering awaiting you. Do not barter away your covenant with Allah for a trifling price. Surely, that which is with Allah is far better for you, if you but knew it. Whatever you have is certain to come to an end, but that which is with Allah is everlasting. We will certainly grant those who are patient in adversity their reward according to the best that they ever did.”
Fulfilment of Allah’s covenant includes the pledge Muslims give to Allah’s Messenger ﷺ when they accept the Islamic faith, as well as every pledge or promise that involves something permissible or encouraged. The fulfilment of promises and pledges ensures that trust is maintained in human transactions. Without such trust human society and humanity generally, cannot have a solid foundation. The ayah makes sure that those who make a pledge or covenant are ashamed to break their oaths after having confirmed them, making Allah the surety for their fulfilment, and appealing to Him as their witness. This is followed by an implicit warning: “Allah certainly knows all that you do.”
Islam takes a very strict view on the question of fulfilling covenants, allowing no breach or violation under any circumstances. Without strict fulfilment of covenants, the whole structure of the community collapses. The Qur’ān further shows the violation of covenants in a very bad light. It also dismisses every excuse people make to justify their going back on covenants: “Be not like her who untwists the yarn which she has firmly spun, using your oaths as a means to deceive one another, simply because a particular group may be more powerful than another. By this, Allah puts you to the test. On the Day of Resurrection, He will make clear to you all that on which you now differ.” (Ayah 92) A person who goes back on his pledges is shown like a stupid, imbecile woman who has no resolve. She spins her yarn and then breaks it leaving it in loose thread.
The surah makes it clear that there is no justification for making oaths a means of deception, to deceive one another, simply because a particular community may be more powerful than another. This is a clear order not to contemplate breaking pledges in order to gain favour with a community that may appear to be more powerful. This Qur’ānic statement warns against seeking such an excuse. It warns that when such a situation prevails, and one community appears to be far more powerful than another, it serves as a trial to Muslims. Allah, the Exalted, wishes to test their resolve to honour their covenants so that they may prove their unwillingness to break a covenant when they have made Allah, the Exalted, their witness to it. “By this, Allah puts you to the test.” (Ayah 92)
As for differences that may exist between nations and communities, these are left to Allah, the Exalted, to resolve on the appointed day: “On the Day of Resurrection, He will make clear to you all that on which you now differ.” (Ayah 92) This statement serves to reassure the Muslim community as it resolves to honour its pledges to, and treaties with, communities that do not share its faith.
The Qur’ān and the Sunnah of Allah’s Messenger ﷺ have left a very strong impression on Muslims in relation to their promises and treaties. This has remained the distinctive characteristic of their dealings with others both at individual and international levels. It is reported that a truce was made between Muawiyah, the fifth Caliph, and the Byzantine Emperor. When the truce was approaching its end, Muawiyah marched towards Byzantium. He was very close to the border when the truce expired, and he began military activity. Umar ibn Utbah, a Companion of the Prophet ﷺ in his army, said to him: “Muawiyah! Allah be glorified. Honour your pledges and never violate them. I have heard Allah’s Messenger ﷺ saying: “Whoever has a treaty with other people must not break his commitment until the term has lapsed.” Muawiyah ordered his army to retreat and marched home.” Examples in history of Muslims honouring treaties, even though their immediate interests would have been better served by abrogating them, are numerous.
The Qur’ān makes such a distinctly strong impression on us through repeated warnings against violation of covenants, promises of reward for honouring them, and by making the covenant a bond with Allah, the Exalted. It shows the benefit that may result from such violation of commitment to be paltry, while Allah, the Exalted, rewards generously those who are true to their word: “Do not barter away your covenant with Allah, the Exalted, for a trifling price. Surely, that which is with Allah is far better for you, if but knew it.” (Ayah 95) Here, trifling price refers to worldly life and its gains. No matter how major they may be yet, as compared with the gains of the hereafter, even the entire world and its entire wealth is nothing but paltry.
The ayah reminds us that what human beings may have is transitory, even though it may be all the property of one person. On the other hand, what is with Allah, the Exalted, remains for ever: “Whatever you have is certain to come to an end, but that which is with Allah is everlasting.” (Ayah 96) Thus their determination to fulfil the commitments, even though they may be burdensome, is immensely strengthened. Those who persevere in the face of difficulty are promised generous reward: “We will certainly grant those who are patient in adversity their reward according to the best that they ever did”. (Ayah 96)
The promise implies that their failings are overlooked, so that their reward takes into account only the best of their actions. The unhesitating fulfilment by the Muslims of their promises, their true oaths and clean, straightforward dealings motivated other communities to learn more about Islam and believe in it.