Article appeared Friday, July 29th, 2016 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (436)

yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

By making a false promise, is it possible to gain the upper hand? The person to whom the
promise is made may be temporarily fooled. However, subsequently when the promise remains
unfulfilled, what could be possible consequences? Before looking at possible consequences,
can we look at examples of such promises?
Many of us are familiar with rental agreements. Do the items in the agreement represent
promises? For example, if the agreement says that the rent would be raised by 10% from the
third year can the landlord ask for a 20% increase during the second year? If such a raise was
insisted upon, could the original 10% raise at the end of second year be considered a false
promise? Similarly, when we sell a product, we promise a number of features/functions. Now, if
the product fails to deliver one or more of the advertised functions, how should a customer look
upon the failed functionality? When an educational institution certifies certain competencies, but
the certified graduate fails to perform, should the institution be held liable for what the certificate
promises? When a student completely copies an assignment, but puts his/her signature
certifying original work, should the signature be considered a false promise?
Equally, when a person claims to believe in the Creator, should the claim be considered a
promise to Him? If yes, is it possible for the promise to be considered false? Under what
possible situations could the claim be considered as false? For example, if we believe that the
Creator has given us life and an intelligent existence, should He be thanked? If we do not thank
Him, what does it imply? Could the claim be considered a false promise?
Immanuel Kant, the philosopher looks deeply into the subject of false promises he even looks
at the intention behind promises {1}. To understand the nature of possible intentions, the
following example is given by Martin Jenkins while commenting on Kants Enlightenment Model
what it means to be a Rational human being.
A person is in financial difficulty and needs money. S/he hopes to acquire the money by
borrowing it on the basis of a promise to pay it back. (However,) s/he has no intention of
paying it back. What is the morality of this? Is it right or wrong? Responses may be that
You ought to repay it as no-one will believe you in the future and you wont be loaned
money when you might need it. In other words, the motive for keeping the promise is
self-interest. Yet this approach could hide many ulterior motives not any that could be
objectively and compellingly good. If based on self-interest, all the person is really
concerned about is him/herself, not the person who loans the money nor the rightness or
wrongness of keeping/not keeping the promise. Perhaps the person wants to keep the
promise for now so s/he can borrow an even larger sum in the future and then renege on
the promise. S/he will honour the promise not because s/he believes in the act of
promising; s/he keeps the promise as s/he wants to enhance their reputation as an
upstanding citizen. S/he might repay the debt as the lender is a close friend who s/he
does not want to offend out of affection. S/he might keep the promise out of love for their
kneecaps fear of failing to repay the debt and not out of respect for the act and
nature of promising. {1}
So, other than actually believing in the reality of the Creator and thanking Him for the
opportunity of an intelligent existence, what possible intentions could there be in saying I
believe? Would any of the following intentions be acceptable to the Creator? To please parents;
to enjoy the status of a believer as part of a religious sect; and/or to enjoy some benefits; e.g.,

benefits of rewards from the Creator? So could claiming belief with impure intentions
demonstrate injustice towards the Creator? Let us look at what the Holy Quran says,
Indeed, Allah commands justice, good conduct and giving to relatives and He forbids
immorality, shameful deeds, injustice, rebellion and oppression. He instructs you that
you may be reminded. [16.90]
Regarding belief and promises made,

16.91 And fulfill the covenant of Allah when you have taken it (i.e., when you
have claimed that you are a believer) and break not your oaths after you have
confirmed them; indeed you have made Allah your surety (and witness); for Allah
knows all that you do.
Whatever promise we make, our Creator is a witness. Being all-knowing, all-wise and all-seeing
our Omniscient Creator takes careful note of every intention we make in our hearts. Also, once
we have connected with the Creator and thanked Him, we should not change our minds.
And hold fast all together by the rope which Allah (stretches out for you) and be not
divided among yourselves; and remember with gratitude Allah's favor on you [3.103]

16.92 And be not like a woman who breaks into untwisted strands the yarn
which she has spun after it has become strong. Nor take your oaths to practice
deception between yourselves lest one party should be more numerous than
another: for Allah will test you by this; and on the Day of Judgment He will
certainly make clear to you (the truth of) that wherein you disagree.
We may have a variety of views regarding the Creator, however, the fact of the matter is that life
on earth is an opportunity to intelligently gauge His Qualities and acknowledge Him with
gratitude. The purpose of life is not for human beings to become enemies to each other. Each
has a distinct personality given by Him.

16.93 If Allah so willed He could make you all one people: but He leaves straying
whom He pleases and He guides whom He pleases: but you shall certainly be
called to account for all your actions.
Each intention will be carefully taken into account. On no account should any promise be made
towards Allah or to fool other human beings.

16.94 And take not your oaths to practice deception between yourselves with the
result that someone's foot may slip after it was firmly planted; and you may have
to taste the evil (consequences) of having hindered (men) from the path of Allah
and a mighty Wrath descend on you.
The claim to belief should be with the full intention of establishing the Creators Reality in our
hearts with piety and gratitude. The importance of this intention cannot be overestimated.

16.95 Nor sell the covenant of Allah for a miserable price: for with Allah is (a
prize) far better for you if you only knew.
For example, if one says, I believe, or even I dont believe, just to be fashionable with the times
or a particular culture, we would have sold the promise or our intentions at a poor price. Should
we be more concerned about what others think of us as compared to what Allah thinks of us?
-------{Notes}:
{1} https://askaphilosopher.wordpress.com/2012/09/08/kant-on-why-one-should-not-make-afalse-promise/