The seventh directive is that promises should be kept at all costs. The Quran here says that one shall be held accountable for promises. In Surah Baqarah, this directive has been mentioned with great stress and emphasis in the following words: (2: 177) وَالْمُوْفُوْن بِعَهْدِهِمْ إِذَا عَاهَدُوا (and when they make promises, they keep them, (2:177)). Promises here imply all kinds and sorts of promises. Imam Amin Ahsan Islahi says:

… keeping promises includes all small and big obligations whether they are related to God or to His creation, whether they come into existence through written means or whether through some relation and association, whether they are declared or are considered to be understood in a good society. We are tied in some sort of a contract with God and the Prophet (sws), our father and mother, our wife and kids, our near and distant relatives, our clan and family, our neighbours and neighbourhood, teachers and students, masters and servants and our peoples and nations. It is an essential requirement of piety and fulfilment of oaths that we fulfil these rights. In other words, the real spirit of keeping promises is fulfilment of rights and fulfilment of rights encompasses all big and small obligations.[1]

At some other instances in the Quran (eg. 23:8, 70:32) as well, this directive of keeping promises is mentioned with the same emphasis. At the time of armed jihad also, the most important directive which is stated in the Quran is this keeping of promises. Surah Tawbah is the surah of punishment. In it, the Prophet (sws) and the Muslims have been directed to end their treaties with the Idolaters of Arabia and launch the final onslaught. However, this much has been clearly stated in it (9:4) that treaties which are time-bound must be honoured till the time period expires. Similarly, in Surah Anfal, it has been stated that if a nation with whom Muslims are bound in a pact is oppressing the Muslims, then these Muslims cannot be helped in breach of this pact. The Quran says:

وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ وَلَمْ يُهَاجِرُواْ مَا لَكُم مِّن وَلاَيَتِهِم مِّن شَيْءٍ حَتَّى يُهَاجِرُواْ وَإِنِ اسْتَنصَرُوكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ فَعَلَيْكُمُ النَّصْرُ إِلاَّ عَلَى قَوْمٍ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُم مِّيثَاقٌ وَاللّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ (72:8)

And to those who accepted faith but did not migrate [to Madinah], you owe no duty of protection until they migrate; but if they seek your help in religion, it is your duty to help them except against a people with whom you have a treaty; and [in reality] Allah sees what you do. (8:72)

(Javed Ahmed Ghamidi)

(Translated by Dr. Shehzad Saleem)

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[1]. Amin Ahsan Islahi, Tadabbur-i Quran, vol. 1, 429.