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Fulfilling a Promise
360. The Prophet (s.a.w.) said: “Love children, be kind to them, and whenever you promise something to them, fulfil it, for they believe that you are the one who provides their sustenance is from you.”1
361. The Prophet (s.a.w.) said: “If any of you promises his child, he should fulfil it.”2
362. al-Sunan al-Kubrā, narrating from ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amir ibn Rabi‘ah who said: “The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) came to our house while I was a little child. I went out to play and my mother told me: “O ‘Abdullah! Come in so that I can give you something.”
The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) asked her: “What do you want to give him?”
She answered: “I want to give him some dates.”
He (s.a.w.) said: “Beware that if you do not do so, it will be written for you as a lie.”3
363. Imām ‘Ali (a.s.) said: “Telling a lie is improper, whether be it a joke or serious. It is also wrong when one of you promises his child and does not fulfil it, for lying leads to debauchery.”4
364. Imām al-Kāzim (a.s.) said: “When you promise children you must fulfil it for them, for they think that you are the one who gives them sustenance. Indeed Allah does not get angry for anything the way He gets angry for the sake of women and children.”5
1.. al-Kāfi, vol. ۶, p. ۴۹, h. ۳. Tahdhib al-Ahkām, vol. ۸, p. ۱۱۳, h. ۳۸۹. Both narrating from ‘Abdullah ibn Muhammad al-Bijli from Imām al-Sādiq (a.s.).
2.. al-Ja‘fariyāt, p. ۱۶۶, narrating from Imām al-Kāzim (a.s.) from his forefathers (a.s.).
3.. al-Sunan al-Kubrā, vol. ۱۰, p. ۳۳۵, h. ۲۰۸۳۹. al-Isābah, vol. ۴, p. ۱۲۰.
4.. al-Amāli, by al-Saduq, p. ۵۰۵, h. ۶۹۶, narrating from Hārith al-A‘war. Mishkāt al-Anwār, p. ۳۰۲, h. ۹۳۵. Bihār al-Anwār, vol. ۷۲, p. ۲۵۹, h. ۲۴.
5.. al-Kāfi, vol. ۶, p. ۵۰, h. ۸, narrating from Kulaib al-Saidāwi. ‘Uddah al-Dā‘i, p.۷۵.
