Huzoor(aba) recited verse 77 of Surah Al Imran, (3:77) the translation reads: “Nay, but whoso fulfils his pledge and fears Allah -verily, Allah loves those who fear Him."
Huzoor(aba) said it is commonplace these days to say something and be evasive about it later on, to break a promise or covenant in order to suit oneself. Huzoor(aba) said this happens on individual as well as communal levels and indeed on international level when governments openly disregard pacts and agreements. Huzoor(aba) explained that promises and pacts are of various kinds and the objective is that two people/parties honour the pledge they make. Breaches of pledge/promise can be found in every aspect of life, many discords stem when this happens in businesses and general dealings and even written pacts are openly defied and the matters end up reaching the Qadha, or the police and the courts! The pledge made at the Muslim marriage ceremony Nikah is violated when men do not fulfil the rights of their wives and indeed when they are neglectful of paying the mehr that they had openly pledged for. Huzoor(aba) stressed the grievousness of this matter and said that even if there a likelihood of this happening to one in a thousand among us then we need to deeply reflect over it and be most concerned.
Huzoor(aba) cited verse 92 of Surah Al Nahl (16:92) and explained that one does not need to fulfil the promises of which Allah is not the ‘surety’ or the ‘guarantee’, that is, any pledge not made on the principles of justice, kindness and giving like kin gives to kin but is rather based on indecency, manifest evil and transgression.
With reference to verse 11 of Surah Al Fath (48:11) Huzoor(aba) said that we as Ahmadis have indeed made a tremendous pledge in our bai’at (pledge of allegiance) to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and have in fact made a pledge with the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) because we have believed in the Messiah on the endorsement of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be on him). Citing verse 28 of Surah Al Baqarah (2:28) and verse 26 of Surah Al Rad (13:26) Huzoor(aba) explained that it is vital not to be flippant in our actions and thus associate partners with Allah in everyday trivial matters. Huzoor(aba) said Allah commands us to establish ties with relatives, neighbours and friends and warns us of serious consequences of breaching this covenant.
With reference to ahadith Huzoor(aba) elucidated the subject further and said that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) enjoined that one who does not honour a pledge has no faith, he taught not to make a promise that could not be fulfilled and called one who breaks a promise a hypocrite. He said that if one makes a promise with sincere intention but is not enabled to fulfil it then there is no sin on one. Huzoor(aba) cited examples from the blessed life of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) relating his unvarying adherence to the pacts/treaties that he made, despite going through extremely hard and trying times, be it that the pacts were with the enemy or with other tribes.
Reading from an excerpt of the Promised Messiah’s (on whom be peace) writings Huzoor(aba) said when one believes in God one effectively makes a pledge to Him to entrust one’s life and property to Him.
In conclusion Huzoor(aba) prayed that may Allah enable us to act upon and fulfil all our promises that we have made with Him as well as the promises we make with people.