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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Greater Sins Volume 2 The Twenty-First Greater Sin: Non fulfilment of a Promise The twenty-first of the Greater sins is ‘Breaking of a promise.’ There are authentic traditions to this effect from Abdul Azīm where he quotes that Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.) has proved it to be a Greater sin with the help of the following verse of Holy Qur’an: “And those who break the covenant of Allah after its confirmation and cut asunder that which Allah has ordered to be joined and make mischief in the land; (as for) those, upon them shall be curse and they shall have the evil (issue) of the abode.” (Surah Ra’d 13:25) The Holy Qur’an denounces the breaking of promise in the following ayat too: “Yea, whoever fulfills his promise and guards (against evil) - then surely Allah loves those who guard (against evil).

(As for) those who take a small price for the covenant of Allah and their own oaths - surely they shall have no portion in the hereafter, and Allah will not speak to them, nor will He look upon them on the Day of Resurrection nor will He purify them, and they shall have a painful chastisement.” (Surah Ali-‘Imrān 3:76-77) Similarly we find another verse of the same connotation: “Surely the vilest of animals in Allah’s sight are those who disbelieve, then they would not believe.

Those with whom you make an agreement, then they break their agreement every time and they do not guard (against punishment).” (Surah al-Anfāl 8:55-56) This ayat is critical of the Jews of Bani Qurayza, who did not honour the pact, which they had formed with the Holy Prophet (S) regarding cooperation with the infidels. They supplied arms to the disbelievers of Mecca for the Battle of Badr and thus invalidated the pact. Later they justified their action saying they had forgotten the pact.

They once more entered into a pact with the Holy Prophet (S) only to violate it at the time of the Battle of Khandaq (trench). They went against the pact and sided with Abu Sufyan. In various places in the Holy Qur’an we find that fulfilling a promise has been made obligatory and highly emphasised. For example, “and fulfill the promise, surely (every) promise shall be questioned about.” (Surah al-‘Isrā’, 17:34) Also, “O you who believe!