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Fulfilling one’s promise

Q: If I gave my word to a new employer to move to his company and at the last minute and after he stopped looking for someone to fill my new position I changed my mind and decided to stay at my current company. If I stay my new employers work will be affected and if I leave my old work will to be affected as they have not found a replacement for me yet. If I change my mind at the last minute to move to a new company, is it haram because I gave my word to move? Please help me I need to answer both employers tomorrow.

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A: A Mu’min is commanded to fulfil his promise and honour his word. However, if there is a valid excuse due to which he was unable to fulfil his promise, then he will not be taken to task for it.

And Allah Ta’ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

عن زيد بن أرقم أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال من وعد رجلا فلم يأت أحدهما إلى وقت الصلاة وذهب الذي جاء ليصلي فلا إثم عليه رواه رزين (مشكاة # 4883)

قوله فلا إثم عليه قيل فيه دليل على أن الوفاء بالوعد ليس بواجب شرعي ؛ بل هو من مكارم الأخلاق بعد ان كان بنية الوفاء وأما جعل الخلف في الوعد من علامات النفاق كما مر معناه الوعد على نية الخلف وقيل الخلف في الوعد من غير مانع حرام، وهو المراد هنا وكان الوفاء بالوعد مأمورا به في الشرايع السابقة (لمعات)

Answered by:

Mufti Zakaria Makada

Checked & Approved:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)

This answer was collected from MuftiOnline.co.za, where the questions have been answered by Mufti Zakaria Makada (Hafizahullah), who is currently a senior lecturer in the science of Hadith and Fiqh at Madrasah Ta’leemuddeen, Isipingo Beach, South Africa.