offer Salah and give Zakah (4) He عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام was the favourite bondman of Allah Almighty.

True to promise!

Dear Islamic brothers! Here learn it by heart that all the blessed Ambiya عَـلَـيْـهِمُ الـصَّلٰوةُ وَالـسَّـلَام are true to promise, but Sayyiduna Isma’eel عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام has an excellent reputation for this attribute. In his childhood, he عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام fulfilled the promise very well that he made to his respected father, Sayyiduna Ibraheem Khaleelullah عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام with patience and pleasure at the time of being slaughtered. (Tafseer-e-Khaazin, vol. 4, pp. 22)

Once, he عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم made a promise to a person that he عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام would meet him at a place. He عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام reached the place, but that person who was supposed to come, forgot and even evening started. He عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام spent the whole night at that place. In the morning, when that person came he was astonished to see Sayyiduna Isma’eel عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم there. He humbly said, ‘Did you not leave?’ Sayyiduna Isma’eel عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام replied, ‘No, how could I leave before you came?’ (Tafseer Tabari, vol. 4, pp. 351)

Dear Islamic brothers! Have you heard how excellent attribute Sayyiduna Isma’eel عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام possessed! Despite even being a Nabi he عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم stayed the whole night at that place in order to fulfil the promise he عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلَام made to one of his Ummatis [followers].

Therefore, if we do not have any Shari compulsion, so adopting this very beautiful habit we should definitely fulfil the promise we make to someone. Alas! Today breach of promise is becoming widespread in our society. It is not regarded as bad though breach of promise is Haraam and a grave sin because fulfilling a promise is Wajib and compulsory for a Muslim as per Shari’ah. In Ayah 1 of Surah Al-Ma’idah, Part 6, Allah Almighty has said: