When is breaking a promise a sign of a hypocrite?

Question

A certain man is called a scholar (ʿalim) and also bears the title of Sufi and khalifa (successor of a shaykh); he is somewhat acquainted with the rulings of prayer and fasting, and he also takes disciples. He often recites this verse of the Noble Qur’an: [ar]وَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ فَيُوَفِّيهِمْ أُجُورَهُمْ[/ar] “And as for those who believed and did righteous deeds, He will pay them their rewards in full” (Surah Al ʿImran, 3:57).

Answer

If at the very time of promising the intention was not to fulfil the promise, and rather a false promise was made in order to deceive, then this intention is a sin and a sign of a hypocrite. In such a state, taking the pledge (bayʿa) with such a man or choosing him as one’s spiritual guide (muslih) is wrong.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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