Not honouring an agreement (covenant) treaty, promise, oath or vow is always unloving behaviour, because it is always to the detriment of the other party in some or other way. It has to be sin, according to the Biblical definition of sin.
Everyone knows that most people, including Christians, sometimes break their agreements, vows and promises. For the Christian it is, without exception, a sin because it is unloving behaviour. Muslims however, have Allah’s permission to break their agreements, oaths, vows and promises under certain circumstances. There is such an exception in the Quran, found in Surah 9:1-5:
- “A (declaration) of complete absolution on the part of Allah and His Apostle, from all agreements made with idolators.” (Ali, 2000:150) See also Pickthall (1997:127): "Freedom from obligation (is proclaimed) from Allah and his messenger toward those of the idolators with whom ye made a treaty."
- “Move about for four months, (as you will), throughout the land, but know that you cannot frustrate Allah (by your falsehood) but that Allah will cover with shame those who reject Him.” (Ali, 2000:150) and "Travel freely in the land four months, and know that ye cannot escape Allah and that Allah will confound the disbelievers (in his guidance)" (Pickthall, 1997:127).
- “And an announcement from Allah and His Apostle, to the people (assembled) on the day of the Great Pilgrimage that Allah and His Apostle dissolve (treaty) obligations with the Pagans. If then, you repent, it were best for you; but if you turn away, know that you cannot frustrate Allah. And proclaim a grievous Chastisement to those who reject Faith (Islam)" (Ali, 2000:150). (Emphasis added). Pickthall (1997:127): "And proclaim from Allah and His messenger to all men on the day of the greater Pilgrimage that Allah is free from obligation to the idolators, and so is His messenger. So, if ye repent, it will be better for you; but if ye are averse, then know that ye cannot escape Allah. Give tidings (O Muhammad) of a painful doom to those who disbelieve." (Emphasis added).
- “(But the treaties are) not dissolved with those Pagans with whom you have entered into alliance and who have not subsequently failed you in any matter, nor aided any one against you. So fulfil your agreements with them to the end of their term, for Allah loves the righteous.”
- “But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the Pagans wherever you find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem; But if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practice regular charity (become Muslims and pay Zakat), then open the way for them”
Note that in verse 3, Allah and his apostle (Mohammed) have no problem to "dissolve treaty obligations with Pagans." Pickthall (1997:127) renders it "...all
men ... (are) free from obligation to the idolaters, and so is his messenger (Mohammed)." For Islam, all non-Muslims are pagans and idolaters. So, with Allah’s permission, they can break (dissolve) treaties whenever it suits them. In some instances, they must wait for four months (verse 2 and 5). Their adversaries, however, may not do that:
Surah 8:55-56: “For the worst of all living creatures in the sight of Allah are those who reject Him – they will not believe. They are those with whom you did make a covenant, but they break their covenant every time, and they have not the fear (of Allah)”
The Hadith supports the Quran in this. In Al-Hadis (Karim, 1998:23:133(Vol.2):397), under the heading Treaties and Peace the compiler explains in his footnote:
“Treaties and contracts which are consistent with the Quran and Hadis were ordered to be observed. Islam did not encourage laxity in disobeying the treaties as they are solemn pledges, but such contracts and treaties as are unlawful are not ordered to be observed.” (Emphasis added)
The problem is: How will a non-Muslim be able to distinguish between lawful and unlawful agreements as far as the Quran (Islam) is concerned? The implication is that a Muslim can enter into an unlawful agreement and break it when it suits him.
Oaths and vows
What about an oath? What are Allah’s instructions as far as oaths are concerned?
Surah 2:225: “Allah will not take you to task for that which is unintentional in your oaths” (Pickthall, 1997:26)
Surah 5:89: "Allah will not call you to account for what is futile in your oaths, but He will call you to account for deliberate oaths: for expiation, feed ten indigent persons, on a scale of the average for the food of your families; or clothe them; or give a slave his freedom. If that is beyond your means, fast for three days. That is the expiation for the oaths you have sworn.” (Ali, 2000:95) (Emphasis added)
Pickthall (1997:82) renders “futile in your oaths” and “deliberate oaths” in the above quotation as “unintentional in your oaths” and “oaths which ye swear in earnest”. What would be the difference between these two types of oaths in Islam, and how is the other party involved able to distinguish between the two types? Does it really matter? If there is escape even from deliberate oaths (sworn in earnest) should you have enough money or are able to fast for three days, what is the purpose of oaths? There is always a convenient excuse to neglect your duty, and that with your God's permission.
Surah 66:2: "Allah has already prescribed for you, (o men), the absolution (undoing or getting out of - according to footnote) of your oaths (in some cases).” (Ali, 2000:525) see also Ali, (1946:1569).
It is not clear when oaths can be absolved, or by what criteria it can be done. The Hadith also provides for the breaking of oaths, but again there are no clear guidelines.
Al-Hadis (Karim, 1998:24; 8(Vol.2):475): “the Apostle of Allah said: Whoso takes an oath and then sees another thing better than it, let him expiate for his oath and let him do the latter.”
As easy as that! No valid reason is necessary. You only have to do the expiation and you have no further obligation. What exactly are the expiation requirements? The answer is found in:
Al-Hadis (Karim, 1998:24; 24(Vol.2):479): “the Apostle of Allah said: The expiation of a vow is the same as for an oath.”
Surah 5:89 quoted above gives details of what is needed for the expiation of an oath:
“for expiation, feed ten indigent persons, on a scale of the average for the food of your families; or clothe them; or give a slave his freedom. If that is beyond your means, fast for three days.”
Promises
To keep a promise is basically the same as keeping an agreement or treaty. However, the Hadith considers a promise to be something different. As far as promises are concerned, Karim (1998(Vol.1):470), in his Al-Hadis, says:
“All learned men are, however, unanimous that, in unlawful things, promise can lawfully be broken without being guilty of any sin.”
The argument above, in connection with unlawful treaties and agreements, is also applicable here. The question under debate is: Does a Muslim know when he is making an unlawful promise? If he does know, does he have permission to make an unlawful promise knowingly?
The quotation above, and the one which follows, provide evidence that Mohammed condones this behaviour and agrees that a promise can be broken without valid reason or explanation.
Al-Hadis (Karim, 1998:4:213(Vol.1):472): “the Holy Prophet said: When a man makes a promise to his brother and his intention is to fulfil it for him, but he does not fulfil it, nor does he come at the appointed time, there is no sin against him.”
To make a promise and break it is equivalent to lying. So, how important then is truth in Islam? It seems that, as a rule, Allah expects everybody to tell the truth, but as in the case of treaties, oaths and promises, there are exceptions to the rule.
Al-Hadis (Karim, 1998:4:201(Vol.1):465): “she said: I did not hear him (she meant the Holy Prophet) giving permission of false-speaking in anything of what people utter except in three things – war, restoring peace among men and the conversation of a man with his wife and the conversation of a woman with her husband.”
Al-Hadis (Karim, 1998:4:208(Vol.1):467): “the messenger of Allah said: Falsehood is not lawful except in three things: falsehood of a man to his wife to please her, falsehood in war and falsehood in restoring peace among men.”
As indicated earlier, Allah expects Muslims to obey his messenger, Mohammed. When Mohammed gives permission for telling lies under certain circumstances, it is as good as if it Allah himself gave permission. Bear in mind that Jihad is war, holy war, and falsehood (lying) is permitted in war. In other words, Muslims are allowed to tell lies as far as Jihad is concerned, and non-Muslims are not always aware that they are the enemy against whom a Jihad is conducted. An example is all the people who were in the World Trade Centre in America on 11 September 2001. No one in that building even thought of being an enemy of Islam, but Islam in the name of, and with the permission of their God, Allah, claims they had the right to launch a surprise (lying) attack on their 'enemies'.
In view of this, one can only wonder what value any peace negotiations with Muslims have. There is always a ‘lawful’ escape route from any agreement, treaty, or promise for the Muslim. According to Muslim tradition, the agreement or promise could be either unlawful, or exempt from being upheld because it is a ‘war’ situation. Alternatively, the Muslim could wait four months, feed ten people, or fast for three days. There is always a way out.
One can only sympathise with Israel who previously tried to negotiate peace with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) of Yasser Arafat. In fact, they are almost always willing to negotiate peace with Islam. May God (Yahweh) protect them from these empty treaties and agreements. Not only will any agreement or treaty be completely worthless, but can be extremely dangerous for Israel.
It is evident that a Muslim has no choice. If he wants to be faithful to Allah's commands, he must be violent for the sake of Jihad. With permission from Allah and Mohammed, he may tell lies. For instance, he can pretend to be peace loving even when he knows he is not. War is one of the three exemptions where a Muslim may lie - and why would it exclude holy war, the most important war in Islam?
In the Bible
For the God of the Bible the non-compliance with an agreement (covenant), oath, vow or promise is sin without exception, because it is deceptive behaviour, which is nothing but unloving behaviour. There are many examples in the Bible of covenants (agreements), not only between God and man, but also between people. No exception is made for the breaking of a covenant without committing a sin. A party in a covenant can only be exempt from obligation when the other party is guilty of non-compliance.
According to the Bible, oaths cannot be broken. Matthew 5:33:
“Do not break your oath, but keep your oaths you have made.”
Yahweh said to His nation Israel in Zechariah 8:16-17:
"These are the things you shall do: Speak each man the truth to his neighbor; Give judgment in your gates for truth, justice, and peace; Let none of you think evil in your heart against your neighbor; And do not love a false oath. For all these are things that I hate,’ says the LORD.” (NKJ)
The truth and peace are so important for Yahweh that in a later verse (19) He promised gladness and cheerful feasts for Israel on the following condition:
"Therefore love truth and peace." (See also Leviticus 19:12)
The God of the Bible is a God of truth, and in Him there is no deceit. Jesus is, according to John 14:6:
“...the way and the truth and the life.”
In the truth, there is no place for the lie, and for that reason, He forbids all lying. Leviticus 19:11:
“Do not steal. Do not lie. Do not deceive one another.”
Proverbs 19:9 says:
“A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who pours out lies will perish.”
Colossians 3:9:
“Do not lie to each other”
There is this serious warning in the Bible for sinners, which include the liars in Revelation 21:8:
“But ... the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars – their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulphur (brimstone).” (Emphasis added)
Every person who continues to sin and does not come to the God of the Bible in repentance, and receive Jesus Christ as his/her Saviour, will meet this fate.