Integrity

The Quran

“But yes, whoever fulfills his commitment and fears Allah – then indeed, Allah loves those who fear Him.” [Qur’an; 3:76]

“And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided. And remember the favor of Allah upon you – when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together and you became, by His favor, brothers. And you were on the edge of a pit of the Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus does Allah make clear to you His verses that you may be guided.” [Qur’an; 3:103]

“Obey Allah and His Messenger (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) and do not quarrel among yourselves lest you lose heart and your momentum disappear. And be steadfast. Allah is with the steadfast.” [Qur’an; 8:46]

“…They will only be reminded who are people of understanding – those who fulfill the covenant of Allah and do not break the contract…” [Qur’an; 13:19-20]

“… And fulfill [every] commitment. Indeed, the commitment is ever [that about which one will be] questioned.” [Qur’an; 17:34]

“O Prophet, indeed We have sent you as a witness and a bringer of good tidings and a warner.” [Qur’an; 33:45]

Hadith

Nu’man b. Bashir reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: The similitude of believers in regard to mutual love, affection, fellow-feeling is that of one body; when any limb of it aches, the whole body aches, because of sleeplessness and fever.” [Muslim]

“There are four characteristics, whoever has them all is a pure hypocrite, and whoever has one of its characteristics, he has one of the characteristics of hypocrisy, until he gives it up: When he speaks he lies, when he makes a covenant he betrays it, when he makes a promise he breaks it, and when he disputes he resorts to obscene speech.” In the narration of Sufyan (one of the narrators) it is: “And if he has one of them, he has one of the characteristics of hypocrisy.” [Sahih Muslim]

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, ”Every betrayer will have a flag on the Day of Resurrection” [Sahih Bukhari]


The verses of the Quran and the hadith of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) indicate the importance of fulfilling promises and covenants and they point to abhorrence of breaking them or failing to fulfil them.

Fulfilling promises is one of the attributes of the pious. It is a means of attaining security in this world and preventing bloodshed, and of protecting the rights of people.

If trustworthiness and loyalty are the qualities of faith and piety, then betrayal and treachery are the qualities of hypocrisy and evil.