Page 34 - What the Qur'an Says about Liars and Their Methods

WHAT THE QUR'AN SAYS ABOUT LIARS AND THEIR METHODS
Promising something that the liar knows
cannot be performed:

The failure to keep one's word is a common occurrence. Of
course, when circumstances change, people might be unable to
keep their word even though they very much want to do so
and had made their promise in all sincerity. However, Allah
warns people against making a promise, while knowing that it
cannot be kept, to gain another person's fleeting attention or
for any other reason, as follows:
O you who believe! Why do you say that which you
do not do? It is deeply abhorrent to Allah that you
should say that which you do not do. (Surat as-Saff,
61:2-3)
Be true to Allah's contract when you have agreed to it,
and do not break your oaths once they are confirmed
and you have made Allah your guarantee. Allah
knows what you do. (Surat an-Nahl, 16:91)
Fulfill your contracts. Contracts will be asked about.
(Surat al-Isra’, 17:34)
Mehmed Zahid Kotku, one of the twentieth century's
leading Islamic scholars, said the following about making such
false promises:
"Failure to keep one's word or promise or to carry out a prom-
ised act is falsehood. If a person promises to do something and
then does not do it, he is considered a liar. If he makes a promise
knowing that he will never attempt to fulfill it, his falsehood is
doubled. If he wants to keep his promise, but for some legitimate
reason is unable to do so and apologizes, he might be forgiven
by the other party. Therefore, when people promise to do some-
thing, they should always say: 'If Allah wills.' " 8
As Kotku points out, making a promise that cannot be
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