Breaking a promise

Question

A person made a firm promise in a large gathering: “Whenever I go for Hajj to the noble House of Allah, I will take my respected teacher with me.” But now his intention has changed, and now, when setting out, he is going alone; he is not taking the teacher with him, and is only prepared to bear his expenses. What should this person now be called — a liar or a promise-breaker? According to the Shariʿa, what will his penalty (compensation) be in this world?

Answer

If at the time of promising the intention was “I will not fulfil it,” and the promise was made merely in order to deceive, then this is a sign of a hypocrite (munafiq) and a grave sin (maʿsiya); may Allah protect us. If at the time of promising there was the intention to fulfil it, but later he could not fulfil it because of some valid excuse (ʿudhr)

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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