Tradition

إنّا أَهْلُ بَيْت نَرَى وَعْدَنا عَلَيْنا دَيْناً كَما صَنَعَ رَسُولُ اللّهِ(ص)

Imam al-Rida’ (‘a) is narrated to have said: “We are a family who considers our promises to be just like our debts and this is how the Prophet of God was.”1

Brief Commentary

Debts do not happen only when we borrow something from others and then owe them money as a result. Those who give a promise to others are in reality in their debt and they are responsible to fulfill their moral and ethical obligations towards them. This is something which cannot simply be shrugged off.

Being loyal to one’s word is a sign of character, faith, truthfulness, and it also helps to solidify the bonds of trust in the society. It is something which strengthens the spirit of social cooperation and it is for these reasons that Islam has placed a great importance on fulfilling such promises.

• 1. Taken from the book: Tuhaf al-’Uqul, p. 333.