All scientific, cultural, and economic advancements achieved by humanity are the result of social life. When experiences and thoughts are shared, industries and civilizations join forces, creating a powerful movement within human societies. If people lived in isolation, each person would carry their limited life experience to the grave, and society would remain stagnant. There would be no transformation or progress—no civilization, no culture. For this very reason, Islam places great importance on strengthening social bonds. Surely, whatever strengthens these ties is considered desirable in Islam, and anything that weakens them is deemed reprehensible.
It is evident that loyalty to promises is the primary means of reinforcing these bonds. Thus, one of the key conditions for social cooperation and solidarity is the issue of covenants and commitments. If loyalty to personal and international agreements were neglected even for a single day, the fabric of human life would unravel, and societal progress would come to a standstill.
Therefore, a person’s success in life can be measured by the extent to which they remain committed to their promises. Those who are more loyal are held in higher regard, for loyalty to promises is a stronghold of greatness and character. Conversely, widespread breaches of trust in a society breed suspicion and mistrust among individuals. When the threads of unity are severed, people become vulnerable and easily surrender to their enemies. Loyalty to promises draws in the investments of others and even enhances one’s material life. For this reason, all governments around the world strive to uphold their treaties and agreements to avoid isolation and enjoy economic prosperity.
Even in countries that experience revolutions and undergo complete systemic change, the new revolutionary leaders often declare their commitment to honoring the treaties and agreements made by the previous regime—even if those agreements conflict with their own views and preferences—because failure to do so would result in the loss of international trust. This principle also applies to individuals.
Moreover, the principle of justice, which is among the most fundamental social moral values, cannot be upheld without loyalty to promises. Those who break promises are always counted among the unjust and tyrannical. Every human being, by their God-given nature, condemns, reproaches, and despises such people. This is a clear sign that loyalty to promises is an innate human value.
