The ruling on breaking a promise

Question

If a person breaks a promise, what is the ruling of the Shariʿa? This being when no limit had been set for that promise?

Answer

Having the intention, when breaking a promise, that it is not to be fulfilled is a sign of a hypocrite (munafiq). But if the intention was indeed to fulfil it, and then he could not fulfil it because of some valid excuse (ʿudhr), there is no sin on him; failing to fulfil it without an excuse is a sin.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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