All praise is due to Allah, who has assigned every individual his rightful due, who has prohibited injustice upon Himself and has likewise prohibited it among His servants. He has commanded them to honor and fulfill their covenants, as He says:
يا أيها الذين آمنوا أوفوا بالعقود
“O you who believe, fulfill all contracts.”¹
He also says:
وعد الله لا يخلف الله الميعاد
“It is the promise of Allah. Indeed, Allah does not fail in His promise.”²
Peace and blessings be upon the Beloved and Chosen Messenger, who said:
آية المنافق ثلاث: إذا حدث كذب، وإذا وعد أخلف، وإذا اؤتمن خان
“The signs of a hypocrite are three: when he speaks, he lies; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; and when he is entrusted, he betrays the trust.”³
To proceed:
The issue of promises and the related question of whether fulfilling a promise is legally binding or merely recommended is a matter that requires careful clarification and precise examination in the contemporary era. This topic carries significant importance because promises are closely connected to numerous modern financial transactions, particularly the contractual structures employed by Islamic financial institutions.
Any scholarly discussion concerning contracts in Islamic finance necessarily entails an examination of promises and the extent to which they may be considered binding or non-binding. This is because many Islamic banking operations are structured upon contracts that rely heavily on binding promises as an essential component of their implementation. Consequently, studying the legal status and enforceability of such promises has become both necessary and highly relevant.
Accordingly, this research seeks to examine the nature of promises in Islamic jurisprudence, with particular attention to their application in contemporary Islamic banking practices. It aims to analyze the juristic opinions regarding the binding force of promises and to assess their implications for modern financial contracts. I seek Allah’s assistance in completing this work successfully and ask Him to guide me toward truth and accuracy. Indeed, He alone grants success and enables what is right. All praise belongs to Allah, from beginning to end.
